Biza2020_Article_GeNeralizatioNStrategiesINFiNd.pdf (1004.43 kB)
Generalization strategies in finding the nth term rule for simple quadratic sequences
journal contribution
posted on 2019-09-02, 09:31 authored by Irene Biza, Dave Hewitt, Anne Watson, John MasonIn this study, we identify ways in which a sample of 18 graduates with mathematics-related first degrees found the nth term for quadratic sequences from the first values of a sequence of data, presented on a computer screen in various formats: tabular, scattered data pairs and sequential. Participants’ approaches to identifying the nth term were recorded with eye-tracking technology. Our aims are to identify their strategies and to explore whether and how format influences these strategies. Qualitative analysis of eye-tracking data offers several strategies: Sequence of Differences, Building a Relationship, Known Formula, Linear Recursive and Initial Conjecture. Sequence of Differences was the most common strategy, but Building a Relationship was more likely to lead to the right formula. Building from Square and Factor Search were the most successful methods of Building a Relationship. Findings about the influence of format on the range of strategies were inconclusive but analysis indicated sporadic evidence of possible influences.
History
School
- Science
Department
- Mathematical Sciences
Published in
International Journal of Science and Mathematics EducationVolume
18Pages
1105 - 1126Publisher
SpringerVersion
- VoR (Version of Record)
Rights holder
© The AuthorsPublisher statement
This is an Open Access Article. It is published by Springer under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Unported Licence (CC BY). Full details of this licence are available at: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Acceptance date
2019-08-04Publication date
2019-08-17Copyright date
2019ISSN
1571-0068eISSN
1573-1774Publisher version
Language
- en
Depositor
Dr Dave HewittUsage metrics
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