How do Teachers and Pre-service Teachers Interpret the Errors Made by Students when Solving Problems of Multiplicative Structure?

Abstract This study investigates how in-service and pre-service teachers interpret the errors made by students when solving problems of multiplicative structure. Participants were 12 pre-service and 12 Mathematics Elementary School teachers. In a semi-structured interview, each participant was presented six cards, each one containing a mathematical problem (three product of measures and three isomorphism of measures problems) which incorrect solutions should be interpreted. According to the participants, the errors were procedural, linguistic and conceptual in nature. Pre-service and in-service teachers considered the errors in the product of measures problems mostly as conceptual in nature, while errors in isomorphism of measures problems were mostly linguistic in nature. As the two groups showed the same pattern of quantitative results, was concluded that in Mathematics teaching, more than professional training and experience, the nature of the problem has a relevant role in the way that errors are interpreted.