After the publication of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMMS) results, where Singapore has consistently placed number one, educators began asking why American students were not performing as well as their counterparts. This qualitative case study consisted of four secondary students, two American and two Singaporean, living in Singapore. The usage of qualitative study allowed an in depth investigation as to what the students are actually doing while completing mathematical tasks. The research investigated the strategies and thought processes of students while performing mathematics problem solving tasks, as one way to measure the differences in the student's performance. During the task-based interviews students completed twelve problem solving tasks while thinking aloud. After completion of the problem solving tasks the students completed a metacognition survey and participated in a short interview conducted by the researcher. The study was completed in order to answer the following research questions: What strategies do 12th grade American and Singaporean students use when working on mathematics problem solving tasks? and What mediates success on mathematics problem solving tasks? Using the frameworks of Polya (1957) and Schoenfeld (1985) the researcher was able to conclude that strategies alone will not mediate success when completing problem solving tasks, there are other mediating factors. The American and Singaporean students both demonstrated two similar factors when completing the problems solving tasks. The American students had three separate factors which also contributed to them not gaining completely correct results. This study demonstrated that students are most successful when they use Polya's (1957) four stages of problem solving and Schoenfeld's (1985) six characteristics of being a good problem solver. / A Dissertation Submitted to the Department of Middle and Secondary Education in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of
Philosophy. / Summer Semester, 2006. / June 13, 2006. / Problem Solving, Singapore Mathematics, Secondary Mathematics, Metacognition / Includes bibliographical references. / Leslie Aspinwall, Professor Directing Dissertation; Alec Kercheval, Outside Committee Member; Maria Fernandez, Committee Member; Stacey Rutledge, Committee Member.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_176394 |
| Contributors | Rudder, Carla Amoi (authoraut), Aspinwall, Leslie (professor directing dissertation), Kercheval, Alec (outside committee member), Fernandez, Maria (committee member), Rutledge, Stacey (committee member), Department of Middle and Secondary Education (degree granting department), Florida State University (degree granting institution) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource, computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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