ERIC Number: ED572516
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2015
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Exploring Relationship between Scientific Reasoning Skills and Mathematics Problem Solving
Tajudin, Nor'ain Mohd; Chinnappan, Mohan
Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (MERGA) (38th, Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia, 2015)
Reasoning is considered to be an important proficiency in national mathematics curricula both in Australia (ACARA, 2014) and Malaysia (MOE, 2013). However, the nature of reasoning that supports learning and problem solving in mathematics is an area that requires further study (Schoenfeld, 2013). In this study we explored the link between "Scientific Reasoning Skills" (SRS) and mathematics problem solving performance among a cohort of Malaysian students. As expected, there was a positive relationship but the level of correlation between these two variables was moderate. Although the High-Achievement group performed significantly better than their peers in the Low-Achievement group in their solution outcomes, overall, all students exhibited low-levels of SRS. These findings suggest that while SRS could play a role in problem solving, components of SRS need further analysis in order to better explain how reasoning in science could facilitate problem solving processes.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Science Process Skills, Mathematics Skills, Thinking Skills, Problem Solving, Abstract Reasoning, National Curriculum, Mathematics Curriculum, Correlation, Cohort Analysis, Secondary School Students, Comparative Analysis, High Achievement, Low Achievement, Science Tests, Mathematics Tests, Scores, Scoring Rubrics
Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia. GPO Box 2747, Adelaide SA 5001, Australia. Tel: +61-8-8363-0288; Fax: +61-8-8362-9288; e-mail: sales@merga.net.au; Web site: http://www.merga.net.au/
Publication Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers; Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia
Identifiers - Location: Australia; Malaysia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A