Exploring local plausible reasoning: the case of inequality tasks

I Rofiki,T Nusantara,T D Chandra,Subanji Subanji

doi:10.1088/1742-6596/943/1/012002

I Rofiki, T Nusantara + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/943/1/012002

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Abstract

This study explores local plausible reasoning in solving inequality tasks. The study was conducted to 78 students of mathematics education major from a university in Surabaya, Indonesia. Data were collected through written tasks and interviews. The data were analysed by a constant comparative method. The results of the study were the characteristics of local plausible reasoning shown by these behaviours: (1) students applied plausible reasoning in the local part of task solving or (2) students involved a conceptual understanding or a relational understanding in a few part of entirely argumentations. Educators can overcome the students’ behaviours by designing a meaningful learning strategy which develops students’ plausible reasoning in the whole of task solving.

Highlights

Existing studies about plausible reasoning (PR) have been widely documented in the literature [1,2,3,4,5]
local plausible reasoning (LPR) is defined as PR applied locally in the whole of task solving, whereas global plausible reasoning (GPR) is defined as PR applied globally in the whole of task solving
The highest proportion of LPR was given in Task 3 (53% of the students), whereas the lowest proportion of LPR was given in Task 1 (38% of the students) and 44% of students applied LPR in Task 2

Summary

Introduction

Existing studies about plausible reasoning (PR) have been widely documented in the literature [1,2,3,4,5] Lithner [7] analysed the qualities of mathematical reasoning into 2 categories, namely PR and reasoning based on established experience (EE). Relating to Lithner‟s idea, the authors define EE as reasoning by giving argumentation based on ideas and procedures constructed from student‟s previous experience without deep understanding. This understanding refers to conceptual understanding [10] or relational understanding [11]. LPR is defined as PR applied locally in the whole of task solving, whereas GPR is defined as PR applied globally in the whole of task solving

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