ERIC Number: EJ869406
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Dec
Pages: 15
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0732-3123
EISSN: N/A
Conceptual Variation and Coordination in Probability Reasoning
Nilsson, Per
Journal of Mathematical Behavior, v28 n4 p247-261 Dec 2009
This study investigates students' conceptual variation and coordination among theoretical and experimental interpretations of probability. In the analysis we follow how Swedish students (12-13 years old) interact with a dice game, specifically designed to offer the students opportunities to elaborate on the logic of sample space, physical/geometrical considerations and experimental evidence when trying to develop their understanding of compound random phenomena. The analytical construct of contextualization was used as a means to provide structure to the qualitative analysis performed. Within the frame of the students' problem encounters during the game and how they contextualized the solutions of the problems in personal contexts for interpretations, the analysis finds four main forms of appearance, or of limitations in appearance, of conceptual variation and coordination among theoretical and experimental interpretations of probability. (Contains 8 figures.)
Descriptors: Probability, Logical Thinking, Foreign Countries, Games, Mathematical Concepts, Data Interpretation, Experiments
Elsevier. 6277 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando, FL 32887-4800. Tel: 877-839-7126; Tel: 407-345-4020; Fax: 407-363-1354; e-mail: usjcs@elsevier.com; Web site: http://www.elsevier.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Sweden
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A