A study of the heuristic strategies used by grade seven and eight students to solve novel mathematical problems

May, Sarah Frances Byrne (1980) A study of the heuristic strategies used by grade seven and eight students to solve novel mathematical problems. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

[English] PDF - Accepted Version Available under License - The author retains copyright ownership and moral rights in this thesis. Neither the thesis nor substantial extracts from it may be printed or otherwise reproduced without the author's permission. Download (23MB)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze the heuristic strategies utilized by grade seven and eight students in attempting to solve novel mathematical problems. Also investigated was the sequencing of heuristic strategies and core procedures. – Twenty-four students of both sexes equally divided into three ability groups – high, medium and low – were involved in the study. Each student was presented with a sheet of cardboard and a marker as well as two problems to solve. These were presented one at a time and consisted of one algebra and one geometry. In addition, for one of these problems physical materials were provided. A maximum of fifteen minutes per problem was permitted. The students were videotaped individually as they used the “thinking-aloud” technique while attempting to solve the problems. – Heuristic strategies and core procedures were recorded using a coding system based on that developed by Blake (1976). The coding procedure had an intercoder reliability of .87 and a sequencing reliability of .77. From the coded protocols, an analysis of the heuristic strategies was conducted. To analyze the sequencing of patterns of heuristics a graphical representation was devised.

Actions (login required)

View Item