Gifted youths’ mathematical modelling-based project production: Structure, triggers and contributing factors

Abstract

This study aims to determine gifted youths’ mathematical modelling project production competencies and structure, to examine the impact of a modelling-based project production and management program on these competencies and project production, and to identify the triggers and contributing factors of project production. Mixed method study was employed. The first study group consisted of 300 randomly selected gifted youths who were registered in the Project Production and Management Program (PPMP) in Science and Art Centers (SACs) throughout Türkiye. The second study group comprised 60 participants who were purposively selected from amongst the 300 participants that took part in the first study group. The data sources used in the study include scale, interview, log, modelling form, peer suggestion and expert suggestion forms. Structural equation modelling, ANCOVA, content analysis was conducted. It has been concluded that the mathematical modelling-based project production has a five-factor structure. It has been obtained that the modelling-based PPMP positively affected the mathematical modelling competencies and project productions and that this improvement was maintained. It has been found that identification of global, real-life and popular science problems in the field gifted youths are interested in is most important trigger. It was indicated there are 15 factors contributing to projects production.