Mathematical Achievement as a Proxy for Measuring Quality of Education among Non-Native English Speakers // التّحصيل الرّياضيّ مؤشّرًا لقياس جودة التّعليم لدى غير النّاطقين بالإنجليزيّة

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.13169/bethunivj.34.2017.0113
• Pages: 113-128
• Published date: 01 January 2017
• Date: 01 January 2017
• Author: Ahmed F. Fasfous,Natalia Hidalgo-Ruzzante,Raquel Vilar-López,Mario Gálvez-Lara,Miguel Pérez-García

113

BETHLEHEM UNIVERSITY JOURNAL 34 (2017)

Mathematical Achievement as a Proxy for Measuring

Quality of Education among Non-Native English Speakers

ﺔّﻳﺰﻴﻠﺠﻧ<ﺎﺑﻦﻴﻘﻃﺎّﻨﻟاﺮﻴﻏىﺪﻟﻢﻴﻠﻌّﺘﻟاةدﻮﺟسﺎﻴﻘﻟاًﺮّ

ﺷﺆﻣّ

ﻲﺿﺎﻳّﺮﻟاﻞﻴﺼﺤّﺘﻟا

Ahmed F. Fasfous, Natalia Hidalgo-Ruzzante , Raquel Vilar-

López, Mario Gálvez-Lara, and Miguel Pérez-García.

Abstract

This study aims to examine the role of mathematical achievement in explaining cultural

differences in neuropsychological performance. A comprehensive neuropsychological

battery was administrated to 54 individuals from two different cultures: (27 Spaniard

and 27 Colombians). Several studies have demonstrated that the quality of education

measured by reading ability tests may explain cultural differences in neuropsychological

test performance. These studies have been conducted mostly among English speakers

within the same educational system. Being a non-phonemic language, English allows for

the reading of low-frequency words to be used as a measure of the quality of education.

However, this might not be useful in the case of phonemic languages, such as Spanish.

Moreover, it is difficult to compare the quality of education measured by reading ability in

cultures with different languages or different educational systems. The results of this study

reveal significant differences between these group on the majority of neuropsychological

tests. All these differences disappeared when the effect of mathematical achievement was

controlled. Thus, mathematical achievement may be considered as a measure of quality of

education when studying cultural neuropsychological differences.

Keywords: Culture; Neuropsychological Assessment; Mathematical Achievement; Quality of Education; Spanish

Disclaimer: The opinions and views expressed in the publications of Bethlehem University Journal are not those

of the Journal’s editorial board and staff of the Dean of Research at Bethlehem University. The accuracy of the

material and any errors in this publication are the sole responsibility of the respective authors and contributors.

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BETHLEHEM UNIVERSITY JOURNAL 34 (2017)

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