The George Washington University Graduate School of Education and Human Development
Quantitative Research Methods: New Doctoral Student Self-Assessment
 
Introduction
Instructions
Resources
Assessment
Answer Key
Module 1
Module 2
Module 3
Module 4
Module 5
Module 6
Module 7
Module 8
Module 9
Module 10
Module 11
Module 12
Module 13
Answer Key
Module 1: Algebraic Notation and Operations

The correct answers for this module are:

1. B
2. B
3. C
4. C
5. A
6. B
7. C

Recommendations

If you missed more than two of these problems, you should brush up on basic algebra. These skills are needed in several of the following sections of this self-assessment, so it would be wise to do that study before moving on to the next sections. In addition, most learning resources covering the content in sections 2-13 below presume mastery of basic algebra.

Resources for Brushing Up On Basic Algebra

GSEHD's doctoral level quantitative research methods and statistics courses require only the equivalent of the first semester of what is normally called Algebra I. You need to know what equations represent and how to re-write equations to solve for any given unknown.

Arithmetic and Algebra Again
Brita Immergut and Jean Burr Smith; McGraw-Hill, 1994; $15.
This book provides good explanations of pre-algebra math, the basics of algebra, some descriptive statistics, and graphs. There are lots of problems and an answer key.

Teach Yourself Statistics, Second Edition
Alan Graham; NTC Publishing; 2000; $10
This book provides generally good brief descriptions and illustrations of basic algebra, descriptive statistics, tables, graphs, sampling, and probability

Practical Algebra: A Self-Teaching Guide, Second Edition
Peter Selby & Steve Slavin; John Wiley, 1991; $20.
This book also covers pre-algebra math, the basics of algebra, some descriptive statistics, graphs, and probability. There are lots of problems and an answer key.

algebrahelp.com
http://www.algebrahelp.com
This is a good online source, providing in-depth lessons with problem sets and answers. Site also contains an interactive equation solver.

S.O.S. Mathematics - Algebra
http://www.sosmath.com/algebra/algebra.html
This is a good interactive tutorial for refreshing algebra skills.

Mathematics Skills Review Series #6: Review of Algebra
http://cstl.syr.edu/fipse/MathReview.html
This is an instructional Web site with generally clear explanations, good illustrations, and lots of exercises with answers. It was developed by six universities with federal funding. (Note: After selecting a module, you have to click on the small yellow cross at the bottom to get to the content links.)

GoMath.com
http://www.gomath.com/algebra.html#algebra
This is an online pre-algebra and algebra math course with exercises and answers.

Understanding Algebra
http://216.247.77.187/algebra/
This is an online comprehensive Algebra textbook.

MathPrep.com
http://www.mathprep.com/
This Web site offers several self-paced online mathematics courses. The Elementary Algebra course covers pre-algebra, all the algebra you will need in the GSEHD doctoral courses, and graphs. The charge is $70. Problems are accompanied by answers and usually examples showing one way to arrive at the correct answer.

Go to Module 1