Journals / Mehmet Akif Ersoy Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi / 2025 / Sayı: 76

Investigating the relationship between argumentative reasoning and generalization in fourth-grade mathematical writing

Argümantatif akıl yürütme ve genelleme arasındaki ilişkinin matematiksel yazılar temelinde incelenmesi

Pages
16–28
Publication Date
2025-10-31
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

These results contribute to the literature by providing evidence of these processes in young learners.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:This study explores the relationship between argumentative reasoning and generalization in mathematical writing among fourth-grade students.
📊
Key Findings & Data:Conducted with 289 participants, the research involved a writing task where students were required to understand and articulate the validity of a given solution strategy.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:These results contribute to the literature by providing evidence of these processes in young learners.
🔬Design:Araştırma Makalesi
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:argümantatif akıl yürütme · genelleme · matematiksel yazma

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between argumentative reasoning and generalization in mathematical writing among fourth-grade students. Conducted with 289 participants, the research involved a writing task where students were required to understand and articulate the validity of a given solution strategy. Additionally, they needed to determine whether the methods or strategies used in the provided examples could be applied to other problems. Analysis of the students’ work revealed that 37.7% demonstrated argumentative reasoning, while 56% successfully generalized strategies to different contexts. Statistical analysis indicated a moderately positive and significant correlation between argumentative reasoning and generalization. These findings suggest that students who are able to reason argumentatively are more likely to generalize problem-solving strategies, highlighting the interconnection between these cognitive skills. The study underscores the importance of instructional approaches that simultaneously foster reasoning and generalization abilities, as enhancing one skill may positively influence the other, thereby supporting the development of effective mathematical writing. These results contribute to the literature by providing evidence of these processes in young learners.

Özet

Bu çalışma, dördüncü sınıf öğrencilerinin matematiksel yazılarında argümantatif akıl yürütme ile genelleme arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemektedir. Araştırma, 289 katılımcı ile yürütülmüş olup, öğrencilere bir çözüm stratejisinin geçerliliğini değerlendirmeleri ve fikirlerini ifade etmeleri gereken bir yazma görevi verilmiştir. Bu görevde ayrıca, sunulan örneklerde kullanılan yöntem veya stratejilerin diğer problemlere uygulanabilirliğinin de belirlenmesi istenmiştir. Öğrencilerin %37,7'si matematik yazılarında argümantatif akıl yürütme becerisi sergilerken, %56'sı stratejileri farklı bağlamlara genelleyebilmiştir. Bulgular, argümantatif akıl yürütme ile genelleme arasında orta düzeyde pozitif ve istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bir korelasyon olduğunu ortaya koymuştur. Bu da bir bilişsel becerideki gelişmenin diğerini olumlu yönde etkileyebileceğini ve genel matematik yazma yeteneğini destekleyebileceğini düşündürmektedir. Çalışma, hem akıl yürütme hem de genelleme becerilerini aynı anda ele alan öğretim stratejilerinin önemini vurgulamaktadır. Bu bilişsel süreçleri gözlemlemek ve incelemek zor olsa da, araştırma, öğrenci yazıları temelinde bu iki süreçlerin birbirleriyle bağlantılı olduğunu ortaya koyarak literatüre katkıda bulunmaktadır.

🔖

Cite This Article

Ergan, S. N. (2025). Investigating the relationship between argumentative reasoning and generalization in fourth-grade mathematical writing. Mehmet Akif Ersoy Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, Sayı: 76, 16–28. https://doi.org/10.21764/maeuefd.1534068

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (36)

  1. Bangert-Drowns, R. L., Hurley, M. M., & Wilkinson, B. (2004). The Effects of School-Based Writing-to-Learn Interventions on Academic Achievement: A Meta-Analysis. Review of Educational Research, 74(1), 29–58. https://doi.org/10.3102/00346543074001029
  2. Bozkurt, A., & Polat, S. (2018). Öğrencilerin matematiksel düşüncelerini ortaya çıkarmaya yönelik öğretmen sorularının incelenmesi. Türk Bilgisayar ve Matematik Eğitimi Dergisi, 9(1), 72–96. https://doi.org/10.16949/TURKBILMAT.337419
  3. Bryman, A. (2016). Social research methods. Oxford university press.
  4. Buehl, M. M., Alexander, P. A., Murphy, P. K., & Sperl, C. T. (2001). Profiling Persuasion: The Role of Beliefs, Knowledge, and Interest in the Processing of Persuasive Texts That Vary by Argument Structure. Journal of Literacy Research, 33(2), 269–301. https://doi.org/10.1080/10862960109548112
  5. Bywater, J. P., Lilly, S., & Chiu, J. L. (2023). Examining technology-supported teacher responding and students’ written mathematical explanations. Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education, 26(6), 785–807. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10857-022-09546-3
  6. Callejo, M. L., & Zapatera, A. (2017). Prospective primary teachers’ noticing of students’ understanding of pattern generalization. Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education, 20(4), 309–333. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10857-016-9343-1
  7. Casa, T., Firmender, J., Cahill, J., Cardetti, F., Choppin, J., Cohen, J., & Zawodniak, R. (2016). Types and purposes for elementary mathematical writing: Task force recommendations. Retrieved from Http://Mathwriting.Education.Uconn.Edu.
  8. Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2011). Research methods in education (7th ed.). Routledge.
  9. Chen, H., Lewis, H., & Myhill, D. (2021). Fostering critical reasoning: Developing argumentative competence in early and middle primary years. The Australian Journal of Language and Literacy, 44(2), 46–61. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03652072
  10. El Mouhayar, R. R., & Jurdak, M. E. (2013). Teachers’ ability to identify and explain students’ actions in near and far figural pattern generalization tasks. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 82(3), 379–396. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10649-012-9434-6
  11. Ellis, A. B., Lockwood, E., Tillema, E., & Moore, K. (2022). Generalization Across Multiple Mathematical Domains: Relating, Forming, and Extending. Cognition and Instruction, 40(3), 351–384. https://doi.org/10.1080/07370008.2021.2000989
  12. Graham, S. (2022). A walk through the landscape of writing: Insights from a program of writing research. Educational Psychologist, 57(2), 55-72. https://doi.org/10.1080/00461520.2021.1951734
  13. Harel, G., & Tall, D. (1991). The General, the Abstract, and the Generic in Advanced Mathematics. For the Learning of Mathematics, 11(1), 38–42.
  14. Iordanou, K., Kendeou, P., & Beker, K. (2016). Argumentative reasoning. In Handbook of Epistemic Cognition (pp. 39–53). Routledge.
  15. Kama, Z., Işıksal Bostan, M., & Tunç Pekkan, Z. (2023). Sixth-grade students pattern generalization approaches. Journal of Pedagogical Research, 5. https://doi.org/10.33902/JPR.202316928
  16. Karlı, M., & Yıldız, E. (2022). Incorrect Strategies Developed by SeventhGrade Students to Solve Proportional Reasoning Problems. Eğitimde Nitel Araştırmalar Dergisi, 29, 111–148. https://doi.org/10.14689/enad.29.5
  17. Kostos, K., & Shin, E. K. (2010). Using math journals to enhance second graders’ communication of mathematical thinking. Early Childhood Education Journal, 38(3), 223–231. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-010-0390-4
  18. Kuhn, D., Hemberger, L., & Khait, V. (2016). Tracing the Development of Argumentive Writing in a Discourse-Rich Context. Written Communication, 33(1), 92–121. https://doi.org/10.1177/0741088315617157
  19. Lannin, J. K. (2005). Generalization and Justification: The Challenge of Introducing Algebraic Reasoning Through Patterning Activities. Mathematical Thinking and Learning, 7(3), 231–258. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327833mtl0703_3
  20. Lobato, J., Ellis, A. B., & Munoz, R. (2003). How ‘Focusing Phenomena’ in the Instructional Environment Support Individual Students’ Generalizations. Mathematical Thinking and Learning, 5(1), 1–36. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327833MTL0501_01
  21. Maulyda, M. A., Annizar, A. M., Hidayati, V. R., & Mukhlis, M. (2020). Analysis of students’ verbal and written mathematical communication error in solving word problem. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1538(1), 012083. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1538/1/012083
  22. Nussbaum, E. M., & Schraw, G. (2007). Promoting argument-counterargument integration in students' writing. The Journal of Experimental Education, 76(1), 59-92. https://doi.org/10.3200/JEXE.76.1.59-92
  23. Olsher, S., & Lavie, I. (2023). Design of tasks for assessment of generalization abilities of preservice teachers of elementary school mathematics. International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 54(5), 706–724. https://doi.org/10.1080/0020739X.2021.1962999
  24. Prado, J., Léone, J., Epinat-Duclos, J., Trouche, E., & Mercier, H. (2020). The neural bases of argumentative reasoning. Brain and Language, 208, 104827. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bandl.2020.104827
  25. Radford, L. (2010). The Eye as a Theoretician: Seeing Structures in Generalizing Activities. For the Learning of Mathematics, 30(2), 2–7.
  26. Reznitskaya, A., Kuo, L., Glina, M., & Anderson, R. C. (2009). Measuring argumentative reasoning: What’s behind the numbers? Learning and Individual Differences, 19(2), 219–224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2008.11.001
  27. Riccomini, P. J., Smith, G. W., Hughes, E. M., & Fries, K. M. (2015). The language of mathematics: The importance of teaching and learning mathematical vocabulary. Reading and Writing Quarterly, 31(3), 235–252. https://doi.org/10.1080/10573569.2015.1030995
  28. Rivera, F. D., & Becker, J. R. (2016). Middle school students’ patterning performance on semi-free generalization tasks. The Journal of Mathematical Behavior, 43, 53–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmathb.2016.05.002
  29. Strachota, S., Brizuela, B., Gibbins, A., Blanton, M., Gardiner, A. M., & Sawrey, K. (2023). First Graders’ Definitions, Generalizations, and Justifications of Even and Odd Numbers. Canadian Journal of Science, Mathematics and Technology Education, 23(3), 459–478. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42330-023-00297-8
  30. Stylianides, A. L. (2007). Proof and proving in school mathematics. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 38(3), 289-321.
  31. Su, Y., Lin, Y., & Lai, C. (2023). Collaborating with ChatGPT in argumentative writing classrooms. Assessing Writing, 57, 100752. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asw.2023.100752
  32. Taher, A.B., Mamouni, M. I, & Wahbi, B.E. (2023).The generalization as a tool to develop the algebraic thinking process. Journal of Hunan University (Natural Sciences), 50(2). https://doi.org/10.55463/issn.1674- 2974.50.2.16
  33. Tong, C. K.-Y., Yip, E. S.-K., & Wong, T. T.-Y. (2023). Examining the unique contributions and developmental stability of individual forms of relational reasoning to mathematical problem solving. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 73, 102181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cedpsych.2023.102181
  34. Toulmin, S. (2003). The uses of argument. Camridge University Press. https://tr1lib.org/book/612271/530318
  35. Ureña, J., Ramírez-Uclés, R., Cañadas, M. C., & Molina, M. (2022). Generalization strategies and representations used by final-year elementary school students. International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/0020739X.2022.2058429
  36. Wolfe, C. R. (2012). Individual Differences in the “Myside Bias” in Reasoning and Written Argumentation. Written Communication, 29(4), 477 501. https://doi.org/10.1177/0741088312457909