Epistemological Beliefs and Critical Thinking in Mathematics: Qualitative and Quantitative Studies with Pre-Service Teachers

By Benjamin Rott

Epistemological beliefs--i.e. beliefs on the nature of knowledge, its limits, sources, and justification--play an important role both in everyday life and in learning processes. This book comprises several studies dealing with such beliefs in the domain of mathematics; amongst others a qualitative interview study, and quantitative studies for which a new questionnaire has been developed. In this new instrument, belief position (e.g. "mathematical knowledge is certain" vs. "uncertain") and belief argumentation (the way those positions are justified) are differentiated. Additionally, a test for mathematical critical thinking has been designed.The results show significant correlations between sophisticated belief argumentations and high scores in the critical thinking test, but no correlations regarding belief positions.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 3658335386
• ISBN13: 9783658335380
• Release Date: August 2021
• Publisher: Springer Spektrum
• Length: 162 Pages
• Weight: 0.49 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.8" x 8.3"