Research article | Open Access
TAY Journal 2026, Vol. 10(1) 156-182
An Investigation of Pre-service Mathematics Teachers’ Understanding of the Concept of the Logarithmic Function
pp. 156 - 182 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.29329/tayjournal.2026.1427.05
Publish Date: March 31, 2026 | Single/Total View: 0/0 | Single/Total Download: 0/0
Abstract
Exponential and logarithmic functions occupy an important place in both real-world modelling and mathematics curricula, as they are used to represent processes such as growth, decay, change, and scaling. Although the concept of the logarithmic function is a fundamental topic in secondary and undergraduate programmes, it is frequently reported as an area in which students and pre-service teachers experience conceptual difficulties. Given that pre-service teachers will eventually assume responsibility for teaching this topic, examining their understanding of the concept of the logarithmic function is particularly important. This qualitative study aims to investigate pre-service mathematics teachers’ understanding of the concept of the logarithmic function. The participants were five pre-service secondary mathematics teachers enrolled at a public university during the spring semester of the 2024-2025 academic year. The study was conducted as a case study. Data were collected through a researcher-developed interview form consisting of four open-ended questions under three categories: (i) the definition and properties of logarithmic functions, (ii) graphs of logarithmic functions and related features, and (iii) connections between logarithmic functions and real-world contexts. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and the data were analysed using content analysis by coding participants’ statements into subcategories. The findings indicated that participants had difficulty expressing the defining conditions of logarithmic functions accurately and consistently, tended to interpret logarithmic graphs mainly as increasing, and associated real-world contexts largely with the earthquake magnitude scale. In line with these findings, learning environments should be designed to enhance pre-service teachers’ understanding of the concept of the logarithmic function.
Keywords: Mathematics education, logarithmic functions, conceptual understanding, pre-service mathematics teachers.
APA 7th edition
Ozdamar, S., & Turanli, N. (2026).
An Investigation of Pre-service Mathematics Teachers’ Understanding of the Concept of the Logarithmic Function
. TAY Journal, 10(1), 156-182. https://doi.org/10.29329/tayjournal.2026.1427.05 Harvard
Ozdamar, S. and Turanli, N. (2026).
An Investigation of Pre-service Mathematics Teachers’ Understanding of the Concept of the Logarithmic Function
. TAY Journal, 10(1), pp. 156-182. Chicago 16th edition
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An Investigation of Pre-service Mathematics Teachers’ Understanding of the Concept of the Logarithmic Function
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