Developing Mathematical Reasoning Among Secondary School Students Through Metacognition: An Experimental Study

Abstract

Mathematical reasoning is important for the students to be able to apply mathematical ideas in a correct and logical way. Therefore, it is imperative to apply the effective strategies for the development of mathematical reasoning. The present study examined the development of mathematical reasoning among secondary school students through metacognition. The objectives of the study were to (1) examine the development of mathematical inductive reasoning among secondary school students through metacognition, (2) assess the development of mathematical deductive reasoning among secondary school students through metacognition, (3) examine the development of mathematical generalization among secondary school students through metacognition, (4) find out the development of mathematical adaptive reasoning among secondary school students through metacognition, (5) assess the development of mathematical problem solving among secondary school students through metacognition, and (6) examine the development of mathematical reasoning among secondary school students through metacognition. A quasi experimental research design was adopted in the. There were 37 grade 9 students in the control group and 34 in the experimental group. The Independent samples t-test was applied on average pre-test, post test, and gain score of the control and the experimental group. The results of pre-test revealed that initially, the scores of control and experimental groups were nearly the same. The results of post-test and gain score revealed that the experimental group performed better than the control group. It was concluded that metacognition has significant positive effect on mathematical reasoning among secondary school students. Therefore, metacognitive strategies may be used by the teachers and the students in the teaching learning process of mathematics at secondary school level. KeyWords: Metacognition; Mathematical Reasoning; Secondary School Students; Mathematical Inductive Reasoning, Mathematical deductive Reasoning; Mathematical Generalization; Mathematical adaptive Reasoning; Mathematical Problem Solving; Metacognitive Strategies