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Computation and Word-Problem Errors among Grades 4 and 5 Students with Mathematics Difficulty

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Title: Computation and Word-Problem Errors among Grades 4 and 5 Students with Mathematics Difficulty
Language: English
Authors: Jessica Mao (ORCID 0009-0007-5582-7143), Chi Ma (ORCID 0009-0003-8331-0185), Yixian Huang (ORCID 0009-0000-6138-8748), Linling Shen (ORCID 0000-0002-3116-0491), Cinthia B. Herrera (ORCID 0009-0005-5536-288X), Sarah R. Powell (ORCID 0000-0002-6424-6160)
Source: Assessment for Effective Intervention. 2026 51(3):131-143.
Availability: SAGE Publications and Hammill Institute on Disabilities. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 13
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Grade 4
Intermediate Grades
Grade 5
Middle Schools
Descriptors: Computation, Word Problems (Mathematics), Error Patterns, Elementary School Students, Grade 4, Grade 5, Mathematics Education, Learning Problems, Misconceptions, Learning Strategies, Subtraction, Problem Solving, Arithmetic
DOI: 10.1177/15345084251398525
ISSN: 1534-5084
1938-7458
Abstract: Students with mathematics difficulty (MD) often struggle with both computation and word-problem solving, which are foundational skills emphasized in national standards such as the Common Core State Standards. As most past-error analysis research has primarily focused on a single mathematical topic, little is known about whether students with MD demonstrate error patterns consistently across both computation and word problems. The present study in a Southwestern U.S. state examined error types and consistency that Grades 4 and 5 students with MD made on 22 computation problems and 10 word problems. Using a researcher-developed coding protocol adapted from prior literature, we identified that the most common errors were miscalculation, regrouping subtract smaller integer, and wrong operation in computation; and wrong schema, miscalculation, copy, and regrouping in word problems. The majority of students did not demonstrate overlapping errors.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1505590
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
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IllustrationInfo
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  Data: Computation and Word-Problem Errors among Grades 4 and 5 Students with Mathematics Difficulty
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  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jessica+Mao%22">Jessica Mao</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0007-5582-7143">0009-0007-5582-7143</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chi+Ma%22">Chi Ma</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0003-8331-0185">0009-0003-8331-0185</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Yixian+Huang%22">Yixian Huang</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0000-6138-8748">0009-0000-6138-8748</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Linling+Shen%22">Linling Shen</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3116-0491">0000-0002-3116-0491</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Cinthia+B%2E+Herrera%22">Cinthia B. Herrera</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5536-288X">0009-0005-5536-288X</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sarah+R%2E+Powell%22">Sarah R. Powell</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6424-6160">0000-0002-6424-6160</externalLink>)
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  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Assessment+for+Effective+Intervention%22"><i>Assessment for Effective Intervention</i></searchLink>. 2026 51(3):131-143.
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  Data: SAGE Publications and Hammill Institute on Disabilities. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
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  Data: Y
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  Data: 13
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  Label: Publication Date
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Elementary+Education%22">Elementary Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+4%22">Grade 4</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Intermediate+Grades%22">Intermediate Grades</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+5%22">Grade 5</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Middle+Schools%22">Middle Schools</searchLink>
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  Label: Descriptors
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Computation%22">Computation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Word+Problems+%28Mathematics%29%22">Word Problems (Mathematics)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Error+Patterns%22">Error Patterns</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+School+Students%22">Elementary School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+4%22">Grade 4</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+5%22">Grade 5</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mathematics+Education%22">Mathematics Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Learning+Problems%22">Learning Problems</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Misconceptions%22">Misconceptions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Learning+Strategies%22">Learning Strategies</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Subtraction%22">Subtraction</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Problem+Solving%22">Problem Solving</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Arithmetic%22">Arithmetic</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
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  Data: 10.1177/15345084251398525
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  Data: 1534-5084<br />1938-7458
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Students with mathematics difficulty (MD) often struggle with both computation and word-problem solving, which are foundational skills emphasized in national standards such as the Common Core State Standards. As most past-error analysis research has primarily focused on a single mathematical topic, little is known about whether students with MD demonstrate error patterns consistently across both computation and word problems. The present study in a Southwestern U.S. state examined error types and consistency that Grades 4 and 5 students with MD made on 22 computation problems and 10 word problems. Using a researcher-developed coding protocol adapted from prior literature, we identified that the most common errors were miscalculation, regrouping subtract smaller integer, and wrong operation in computation; and wrong schema, miscalculation, copy, and regrouping in word problems. The majority of students did not demonstrate overlapping errors.
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  Label: Abstractor
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  Data: As Provided
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  Label: Entry Date
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  Data: 2026
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  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1505590
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1177/15345084251398525
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 13
        StartPage: 131
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Computation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Word Problems (Mathematics)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Error Patterns
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Elementary School Students
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Grade 4
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Grade 5
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mathematics Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Learning Problems
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      – SubjectFull: Misconceptions
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      – SubjectFull: Learning Strategies
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      – SubjectFull: Subtraction
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      – SubjectFull: Problem Solving
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Arithmetic
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Computation and Word-Problem Errors among Grades 4 and 5 Students with Mathematics Difficulty
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              Y: 2026
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