This book provides a unique international comparative perspective on diverse issues and
practices in mathematics education between and among the US and five high-performing TIMSS
education systems Japan China Singapore South Korea and Taiwan. The book offers multiple
perspectives on the important factors that contribute to mathematics teaching and learning in
different educational systems and cultural contexts. Using large scale data generated by
numerous international comparative studies the book analyzes and provides context for various
methodological perspectives. The book raises compelling questions and issues for mathematics
education researchers leading to a critical examination of what can be learned from other
education systems. Authors address four major research perspectives by critically examining
cross-national similarities and differences such as research on the influence of curriculum on
student learning research on institutional systems of mathematics teacher education research
on improving teacher knowledge and pedagogical approaches and research using large-scale data.
This collection of perspectives serves as a foundation for reviewing and analyzing the
international comparative studies introduced in the book.
