ERIC Number: EJ913985
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1059-9053
EISSN: N/A
Cognitive Development Effects of Teaching Probabilistic Decision Making to Middle School Students
Mjelde, James W.; Litzenberg, Kerry K.; Lindner, James R.
Journal of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education, v40 p36-44 2011
This study investigated the comprehension and effectiveness of teaching formal, probabilistic decision-making skills to middle school students. Two specific objectives were to determine (1) if middle school students can comprehend a probabilistic decision-making approach, and (2) if exposure to the modeling approaches improves middle school students' decision-making abilities? "DECIDE" learning unit is developed to provide the context. This learning unit integrates mathematics, science, and decision-making concepts. Differences in students' pre- and post-test performance on a general decision-making test were statistically significant, indicating students can learn formal decision making in middle school and improve their decision-making abilities. Both race and gender variables were shown to have no statistically significant effect on pre- and post-test scores. (Contains 6 tables and 1 figure.)
Descriptors: Middle School Students, Scores, Decision Making, Cognitive Development, Teaching Methods, Probability, Pretests Posttests, Junior High School Students, Focus Groups, Problem Solving, Control Groups, Research Design, Recreational Activities, Inferences, Mathematics Instruction, Mathematics Education, Science Instruction, Science Education, Statistical Significance
American Society of Agronomy. 677 South Segoe Road, Madison, WI 53711. Tel: 608-273-8080; Fax: 608-273-2021; Web site: http://www.jnrlse.org/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Evaluative
Education Level: Grade 6; Grade 7; Grade 8; Junior High Schools; Middle Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Texas
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A