A Comparison of Calculator Use in Eighth‐Grade Mathematics Classrooms in the United States,Japan, and Portugal: Results From the Third International Mathematics and Science Study

The study used data from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study to determine trends in calculator use among Population 2 (13‐year‐olds) students in Japan, the United States, and Portugal. While relatively high levels of calculator use were observed for the US and Portugal, virtually no calculator use was found for the Japanese sample. Hierarchical Linear Model analysis determined a statistically significant negative relationship between students' frequency of calculator use and student performance in Japan; no statistically significant relationship was detected for the US and Portuguese samples. US student achievement was positively associated with each of the five reported ways in which calculators are used; however, a statistically significant negative relationship was found between student performance and Japanese students' use of calculators on tests. Plausible explanations are explored.