Sixth Graders' Levels of Using Mathematical Thinking in Problem-Solving

Year 2021, Volume: 8 Issue: 1, 111 - 128, 23.06.2021

Kürşat Yenilmez , Ayşe Karakoca

Abstract

In this study, using of mathematical thinking of sixth grade students in problem-solving were examined and whether these skills vary with students’ gender, pre-school education in terms of the students’ achievements in mathematics. The sample of this study constituted 1114 students whom are chosen stratified sampling method sixth grade students of Cankaya, Kecioren and Yenimahalle towns’ schools of Ankara. Turkish translation of Mathematical thinking scale of Cai (2000) was used for collecting data. The scale consisted of 12 questions and the initial six questions were routine questions and the rests were not- routine. Frequencies, percentage, arithmetic mean, standard deviation, t test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used for analyzing the data. Besides, while analyzing the reasoning and thinking skills in problem-solving process, qualitative study used to survey students’ strategies on problems. Based on the findings of the study, students' mathematical thinking states are not changed by gender but pre-school education and mathematics success variables showed significant difference to their mathematical thinking states. In addition, the students’ routine questions average higher than the average of not-routine questions. Result of qualitative research indicates the students have problem in reasoning, communication and flexible thinking skills. Moreover the students are observed to rank mostly routine algorithms and strategies that lead to solutions.

Keywords

Thinking, Mathematical Thinking, Problem Solving

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