Middle School Students' Mathematical Generalization Abilities with the use of Different Representations

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to examine the forms of thinking and generalization types of students during the generalization of the patterns presented with different representations. It is aimed to examine the generalizations used by the students through the theoretical framework, to determine the forms of thinking that prevent them from making algebraic generalization and to determine the use of different representations of the students. For this purpose, case survey research is used in the research. Participants were selected by purposeful sampling method. The study was conducted with 92 students studying in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades. Descriptive and content analysis were used to analyze the data. Data analysis has shown that students tended to have arithmetic generalizations rather than algebraic generalizations. Students have difficulties in making algebraic generalizations using pictorial patterns. They have transformed visual patterns into number patterns and have not been able to make effective use of pictorial patterns.