How to conceptualize the equal sign by middle school students?

This research examined middle school grade 5–8 students’ conceptualization of the equal sign. The study employed a cross-sectional approach. Eight middle school students studying in official public schools in Turkey participated in the study. The study’s data were collected through a clinical interview that utilized eight open-ended questions, covering topics such as arithmetic, pre-algebra, proportional relationship, and algebra. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the study data. Although previous studies showed that students saw the equal sign as write a result, the results of this research, which is a follow-up study, revealed that students did not think of the equal sign as write a result.