EXAMINATION OF DIAGRAMMATIC REPRESENTATION AND VERBAL PROBLEM-SOLVING REPRESENTATIONS OF PRIMARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

Year 2023, Volume: 12 Issue: 3, 228 - 244, 30.09.2023

Emel Çilingir Altıner , Halil Önal

https://doi.org/10.55020/iojpe.1288522

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the diagrammatic representation skills and problem-solving performances of students according to their problem-solving representations. A cross-sectional survey design using quantitative methods was used in this study. The sample consisted of 31 second-grade and 41 third-grade students from a public primary school in Turkey. The Diagrammatic Representation Test and Mathematical Operations Test were used in this study. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistical analysis, the chi-square test, the independent samples t-test, discriminant analysis and logistic regression analysis. The findings indicated that while the preferred types of representations for solving verbal problems and problem-solving performance did not vary significantly based on grade level, scores obtained from the diagrammatic representation test exhibited significant differences. It was observed that students' problem-solving performance and diagrammatic skills could predict their preferred types of representations for solving verbal problems. Consequently, students who possess knowledge regarding effective representation preferences, as well as the ability to construct and utilize them, are more likely to generate appropriate and high-quality representations, leading to accurate problem-solving outcomes. This, in turn, enhances their performance in diagrammatic representation tasks.

Keywords

Diagrammatic representation, pictorial representation, schematic representation, symbolic representation, verbal problem solving

Ethical Statement

This study was designed in accordance with ethical rules, and the necessary approvals were obtained, including parent consent forms, school board information forms, and university ethics board report [45346595 – Date: 05/07/2021 No: 131383]. Students were informed that their responses would be kept confidential and used for research purposes only, and they were told that they could withdraw from this study at any time. The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Supporting Institution

Çukurova University

Project Number

SBA-2021-13633

Thanks

We would like to thank Çukurova University BAPSIS unit for supporting this study and also the children and their teachers who voluntarily participated in the study.

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