Prospective mathematics teachers' critical thinking processes about scientific research: Newspaper article example
TURKISH JOURNAL OF EDUCATION, vol.9, no.1, pp.22-45, 2020 (ESCI, TRDizin)
- Publication Type: Article / Article
- Volume: 9 Issue: 1
- Publication Date: 2020
- Doi Number: 10.19128/turje.605456
- Journal Name: TURKISH JOURNAL OF EDUCATION
- Journal Indexes: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
- Page Numbers: pp.22-45
- Keywords: Critical thinking, Mathematics education, Media texts, Statistical literacy, Teacher training, STATISTICAL LITERACY, SCIENCE, PROBABILITY, STUDENTS
- Open Archive Collection: AVESIS Open Access Collection
- Middle East Technical University Affiliated: Yes
Abstract
This study aimed to explore how prospective middle school mathematics teachers think critically about a newspaper article that reported the findings of a statistical research. Participants of the study were four fourth-year students enrolled at the mathematics teacher education program of a public university. To investigate the research question of the study, case study method was employed. Indepth semi-structured interviews were done to examine participants' critical thinking processes. The findings of the study indicated that prospective mathematics teachers made use of a variety of critical thinking processes (comprehending, making connections, inferring ideas, critiquing, and self-reflecting) and provided clues about the interrelated nature of these processes. This study would shed light on the characterization of critical thinking in the context of statistical literacy by suggesting a blended framework. It also suggests the design of the tasks including media articles to promote both statistical literacy and critical thinking in statistics education courses for prospective mathematics teachers.