International Association of Educators   |  ISSN: 1949-4270   |  e-ISSN: 1949-4289

Original article | Educational Policy Analysis and Strategic Research 2021, Vol. 16(2) 313-329

Assessment of 4th Grade Students’ Problem-Solving Skills in Terms of Various Variables

Cafer Çarkıt & Mehmet Özenç

pp. 313 - 329   |  DOI: https://doi.org/10.29329/epasr.2020.345.14   |  Manu. Number: MANU-2012-01-0001.R1

Published online: May 27, 2021  |   Number of Views: 320  |  Number of Download: 758


Abstract

Problem solving is one of the basic skills needed by individuals today. An individual who has attained problem-solving skills can both overcome difficulties in daily life and be successful in professional business life. In this respect, problem solving is considered as a skill that children should attain from an early age. Many variables are effective in the process of teaching problem solving skills. In this study, 4th grade students’ perceptions of problem-solving skills were assessed according to the variables of sex, receiving preschool education, parental education status, family type and person helping with school work. Employing the quantitative research method, the study used the descriptive survey design. The Problem-Solving Inventory developed for elementary school children was used to collect data. The inventory is a 5-point Likert type scale consisting of 24 items and three dimensions. The study universe was 4th grade students attending public schools in the central districts of Gaziantep. Because of the size of the universe, transportation, economic difficulties and lack of time, the study was conducted with a sample determined by simple random sampling method, one of the random sampling methods. 744 4th grade students participated in the study. The data of the research were analyzed with the SPSS 15.0 program. According to the study results, no difference was found in students’ problem-solving perceptions according to the sex variable. However, students’ problem-solving perceptions differ according to the variables of receiving preschool education, mother’s education level, father’s education level and family type. Also, it was concluded that having someone who helps students with school work makes a significant difference in their problem-solving perceptions. The study results were discussed within the framework of the relevant literature, and late various recommendations were given.

Keywords: Problem Solving, Student, Perception, Variable, Assessment


How to Cite this Article?

APA 6th edition
Carkit, C. & Ozenc, M. (2021). Assessment of 4th Grade Students’ Problem-Solving Skills in Terms of Various Variables . Educational Policy Analysis and Strategic Research, 16(2), 313-329. doi: 10.29329/epasr.2020.345.14

Harvard
Carkit, C. and Ozenc, M. (2021). Assessment of 4th Grade Students’ Problem-Solving Skills in Terms of Various Variables . Educational Policy Analysis and Strategic Research, 16(2), pp. 313-329.

Chicago 16th edition
Carkit, Cafer and Mehmet Ozenc (2021). "Assessment of 4th Grade Students’ Problem-Solving Skills in Terms of Various Variables ". Educational Policy Analysis and Strategic Research 16 (2):313-329. doi:10.29329/epasr.2020.345.14.

References
  1. Agran, M. & Wehmeyer, M. (1999). Teaching problem solving to students with mental retardation. American Association on Mental Retardation. [Google Scholar]
  2. Akbaş, S.C. (2005). A research on the social problem-solving skills of six-year-old children continuing to preschool education (Unpublished Master’s Thesis). Hacettepe University, Ankara. [Google Scholar]
  3. Akın, S., Güngör, İ., Mendi, B., Şahin, N., Bizat, E., & Durna, Z. (2007). Nursing student’s problem-solving skills and internal-external locus of control. Journal of Education and Research in Nursing, 4(2), 30-36. [Google Scholar]
  4. Akkaya, K. (2012). The relationship between the perceived problem-solving level and self-concept of secondary school students. (Unpublished Master’s Thesis). Yeditepe University, İstanbul. [Google Scholar]
  5. Altun, M. & Arslan, Ç. (2006 A study on learning of the problem-solving strategies by secondary school students. Journal of Uludag University Faculty of Education, 19(1), 1-21. [Google Scholar]
  6. Aslanargun, E. & Tapan, F. (2012). Preschool education and its’ effects on children. Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University Journal of Faculty of Education, 11(2), 219-238. [Google Scholar]
  7. Balcı, G. (2007). The examination of metacognitive skills of fifth grade students in terms of their levels of solving verbal math problems (Unpublished Master’s Thesis). Çukurova University, Adana.  [Google Scholar]
  8. Bernardo, A., B. (1999). Overcoming obstacles in understanding and solving word problems in mathematics. Educational Psychology, 19(2), 149-163. https://doi.org/10.1080/0144341990190203 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  9. Burgess, K.B., Wojslawowicz, J. C., Rubin, K. H., Rose-Krasnor, L. & Booth-Laforce, C. (2006). Social information processing and coping strategies of shy/withdrawn and aggressive children: Does friendship matter? Child Development, 77(2), 371-383. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.14678624.2006.00876.x [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  10. Cankoy, O. & Darbaz, S. (2010). Effect of a problem posing based problem-solving instruction on understanding problem. H. U. Journal of Education, 38(38), 11-24. [Google Scholar]
  11. Cohen, L., Manion, L. & Morrison, K. (2007). Research methods in education. Routledge. [Google Scholar]
  12. Çağlayan, H. S., Taşgın, Ö. & Yıldız, Ö. (2008). Analyzing skills of solving problems of high schools’ students who are doing sports from different angles considering variables. Nigde Omer Halisdemir University Journal of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, 2(1), 62-77. [Google Scholar]
  13. Çam, S. (1997). The Effect of communication skills training programme with teacher candidates, on ego states and perception of problem-solving skill (Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation). Ankara University, Ankara. [Google Scholar]
  14. Çilingir, A. (2006) The comparison between high school and high school of science students` social and problem-solving skills (Unpublished Master’s Thesis). Atatürk University, Erzurum. [Google Scholar]
  15. Durmaz, Ş., Kaçar, Z., Can, S., Koca, R., Yeşilova, D. & Tortumluoğlu, G. (2007). Problem solving skills of the students at health high school and the factors affecting them. Journal of Anatolia Nursing and Health Sciences, 10(4), 63-71. [Google Scholar]
  16. Düzakın S. (2004). The examination on the ability of solving problems of high school students according to some variables (Unpublished Master’s Thesis). Gazi University, Ankara. [Google Scholar]
  17. D'Zurilla, T. J. & Sheedy, C. F. (1992). The relation between social problem-solving ability and subsequent level of academic competence in college students. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 16(5), 589-599. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01175144 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  18. Eisenberg, N., Shepard, S.A., Fabes, R.A., Murphy, B.C. & Guthrie, I.K. (1998). Shyness and children’s emotionality regulation and coping: Contemporaneous longitudinal and across-context relations. Child Development, 69, 767– 790. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.1998.00767.x [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  19. Erdem, A., R. & Genç, G. (2014). High school students' opinions of problem-solving skills. Turkish Journal of Educational Studies, 1(2), 1-21. [Google Scholar]
  20. Eroğlu, E. (2001). The effect of family on the development of problem-solving abilities of children (Unpublished Master’s Thesis). Sakarya University, Sakarya. [Google Scholar]
  21. Ferah, D. (2000).  Investigation of perception of problem-solving skills and problem-solving approaches of the Turkish Army Academy cadets in terms of gender, grade, academic success and being leader (Unpublished Master’s Thesis). Hacettepe University, Ankara. [Google Scholar]
  22. Findlay, L.G., Coplan, R. J. & Bowker A. (2009). Keeping it all inside: Shyness, internalizing coping strategiies and socio-emotional adjustment in middle childhood. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 33(1), 47-54. https://doi.org/10.1177/0165025408098017 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  23. Fraenkel, J. R. & Wallen, N. E. (2009). How to design and evaluation research in education. McGraw-Hill. [Google Scholar]
  24. Gelbal, S. (1991). Problem solving. H. U. Journal of Education, 6, 167-173. [Google Scholar]
  25. Genç, S. Z., & Kalafat, T. (2007). The research on evaluation of prospective teachers’ democratic attitudes and problem-solving skills according as different variables. Pamukkale University Journal of Education, 22(22), 10-22. [Google Scholar]
  26. Hamarta, S. (2007).  Social problem-solving skills of elementary 8th level student’s investigation according to perceived mother and father attitude (Unpublished Master’s Thesis). Selçuk University, Konya. [Google Scholar]
  27. Heppner, P. P. & Baker, C. E. (1997). Applications of the problem-solving inventory. Measurement and evaluation in counseling and development, 29(4), 229-241. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481756.1997.12068907 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  28. Kanbay, Y., Aslan, Ö., Işık, E. & Kılıç, N. (2013). Problem solving and critical thinking skills of undergraduate nursing students. Journal of Higher Education and Science, 3(3), 244-251. https://doi.org/10.5961/jhes.2013.083 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  29. Karasar, N. (2014). Scientific research method. Nobel Publication. [Google Scholar]
  30. Karataş, İ. & Güven, B. (2004). Determination of 8th students’ problem-solving skills: A case study. Journal of National Education,163. [Google Scholar]
  31. Kasap, Z. (1997). The Relation between success and manner of primary school 4th year students in problem solving according to the socio-economic level (Unpublished Master’s Thesis). Marmara University, İstanbul. [Google Scholar]
  32. Kesicioğlu, O. S. & Güven, G. (2014). Investigation of the correlation between preservice early childhood teachers’ self-efficacy levels and problem-solving empathy and communucation skills. Electronic Turkish Studies, 9(5). 1371-1383. http://dx.doi.org/10.7827/TurkishStudies.6784 [Google Scholar]
  33. Killen, M. & Smetana, J. G. (1999). Social interactions in preschool classrooms and the development of young children’s conceptions of the personal. Child Development, 70(2), 486-501. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8624.00035 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  34. Korkut, F. (2002). Problem solving skills of high school students. H. U. Journal of Education, 22, 177-184. [Google Scholar]
  35. Kökdemir, D. (2003). Decision making and problem solving under uncertainty (Unpublished Doctoral Dissertation). Ankara University, Ankara. [Google Scholar]
  36. Kürtüncü, M., Ergöl, Ş. ve Demirbağ, B., C. (2013). Implementation of problem-solving inventory in children 10-14 age group. TAF Preventive Medicine Bulletin, 12(5), 545-552. https://doi.org/10.5455/pmb.1-1355495719 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  37. Mayer, R. E. (1998). Cognitive metacognitive and motivational aspects of problem solving. Instructional Science, 26, 49–51. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003088013286 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  38. McCabe, P. C. & Altamura, M. (2011). Empirically valid strategies to improve social and emotional competence of children. Psychology in the Schools, 48(5), 513-540. https://doi.org/10.1002/pits.20570 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  39. Meltzer, D. E. (2005). Relation between students’ problem-solving performance and representational format. American Journal of Physics, 73(5), 463-478. https://doi.org/10.1119/1.1862636 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  40. Mithaug, D. E. (1993). Self-regulation theory. Praeger. [Google Scholar]
  41. Olgun, N., Öntürk Z., Karabacak, Ü., Aslan, F. & Serbest, Ş. (2010). Problem solving skills of the nursing students: Results of the 1-year observation problem solving skills of the students Acibadem University Health Sciences Journal, 1(4), 188-194. [Google Scholar]
  42. Polya, G. (1957). How to Solve It? (2nd ed.). Princeton University Press [Google Scholar]
  43. Saracaloğlu, A. S., Serin, O. & Bozkurt, N. (2001) The relationship between the problem-solving skills and the achievement of graduate students of the graduate school of educational sciences. Marmara University Atatürk Education Faculty Journal of Educational Sciences, 14, 121-134. [Google Scholar]
  44. Savcı, M. & Aysan, F. (2014). The relationship between the perceived stress level and the stress coping strategies in university students. International Journal of Turkish Education Sciences 3, 44-56. [Google Scholar]
  45. Saygılı, H. (2000), The examination of relationship between the skiil of problem solving and social and individual adjustment (Unpublished Master’s Thesis). Atatürk University, Erzurum. [Google Scholar]
  46. Serin, N. B. & Derin, R. (2008). The factors affecting primary school students' perceptions of interpersonal problem-solving skills and the levels of locus of control. International Journal of Human Sciences, 5(1), 1-18. [Google Scholar]
  47. Serin, O., Bulut-Serin, N. & Saygılı, G. (2010). Developing problem solving inventory for children at the level of primary education (PSIC). Elementary Education Online, 9(2), 446-458. [Google Scholar]
  48. Soylu, Y. & Soylu, C. (2006). The role of problem solving in mathematics lessons for success. Inonu University Journal of the Faculty of Education, 7(11), 97-111. [Google Scholar]
  49. Stoyanova, E. (2005). Problem solving strategies used by years 8 and 9 students. Australian Mathematics Teacher, 61(3), 6-11.  [Google Scholar]
  50. Sungur, G. & Bal, P. N. (2016). Analysis of 4th grade students' problem-solving skills in terms of several variables. Journal of Education and Practice, 7(14), 1-9. [Google Scholar]
  51. Tabachnick & Fidell (2013). Using Multivariate Statistics (Sixth ed.). Pearson. [Google Scholar]
  52. Türnüklü, E. B. & Yeşildere, S. (2005). Problem, problem solving and critical thinking. Gazi University Journal of Gazi Educational Faculty, 25(3), 107-123. [Google Scholar]
  53. Ünüvar, A. (2003). The effect of formal various perceived social support on the self-esteem and problem-solving abilities of high school students at the age of fifteen to eighteen (Unpublished Master’s Thesis). Selçuk University, Konya. [Google Scholar]
  54. Verschaffel, L. & De Corte E. (1997). Teaching realistic mathematical modeling in the elementary school: a teaching experiment with fifth graders. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 28, 577-601. [Google Scholar]
  55. Xin, P. Y. (2007). Word problem solving tasks in textbooks and their relation to student performance. The Journal of Educational Research, 100(6), 347-359. https://doi.org/10.3200/JOER.100.6.347-360 [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  56. Yazgan, Y. & Bi̇ntaş, J. (2005). Fourth and fifth grade students’ levels of using problem solving strategies: A reaching experiment. H. U. Journal of Education, 28 (28), 210-218. [Google Scholar]
  57. Yenice, N. (2011). Investigating pre-service science teachers critical thinking dispositions and problem-solving skills in terms of different variables. Educational Research and Rewiews, 6(6), 497-508. [Google Scholar]
  58. Yenice, N. (2012). Investigation the self-efficacy and problem-solving skills of preservice teachers. Electronic Journal of Social Sciences, 11(39), 36-58. [Google Scholar]
  59. Yeşilova, Z. (2013). The seventh-grade students' problem solving behaviours and problem-solving achievement levels (Unpublished Master’s Thesis). Marmara University, İstanbul.  [Google Scholar]
  60. Yıldırım, A., Hacıhasanoğlu, R., Karakurt, P. & Türkleş, S. (2011). Problem solving skills and influential factors in high school students. International Journal of Human Sciences, 8(1), 905-921. [Google Scholar]
  61. Yong, H. T. & Kiong, L. N. (2007). Metacognitive aspects of mathematics problem solving. Third East Asia Regional Conference on Mathematics Education (ICMI Regional Conference). Mara University of Technology, Malaysia. [Google Scholar]