Skip to main content
Log in

The role of task format, mathematics knowledge, and creative thinking on the arithmetic problem posing of prospective elementary school teachers

  • Article
  • Published:
Mathematics Education Research Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A Test of Arithmetic Problem Posing was developed by the authors to examine the arithmetic problem-posing behaviours of sixty-three prospective elementary school teachers. Results of analysis were then used to examine task format (i.e., the presence or absence of specific numerical information) on subjects’ problem posing and the relationship between subjects’ problem posing and their mathematics knowledge and verbal creativity. The major findings were that the test effectively evaluated arithmetic problem posing, and that most subjects were able to pose solvable and complex problems. In addition, problem-posing performance was better when the task contained specific numerical information than when it did not, and that problem-posing performance was significantly related to mathematical knowledge but not to verbal creativity.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Brown, S. I., & Walter, M. I. (1990).The art of problem posing (2nd edition). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Butts, T. (1980). Posing problems properly. In S. Krulik & R. E. Reys (Eds.),Problem solving in school mathematics (pp. 23–33). Reston, VA: National Council of Teachers of Mathematics.

    Google Scholar 

  • Educational Testing Service (1986).The PPST guide. Princeton, NJ: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ellertoft, N. F. (1986). Children’s made up mathematics problems— A new perspective on talented mathematicians.Educational Studies in Mathematics, 17, 261–271.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Freudenthal, H. (1973).Mathematics as an educational task. Dordrecht: D. Reidel Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Getzels, J. W., & Jackson, P. W. (1962).Creativity and intelligence: Exploration with gifted students. New York: John Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldin, G. A., & McClintock, C. E. (1979).Task variables in mathematical problem solving. Columbus, OH: ERIC Clearinghouse for Science, Mathematics and Environmental Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gonzales, N. A. (1996). Problem formulation: Insights from student generated questions.School Science and Mathematics, 96(3), 152–157.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greer, B., & McCann, M. (1991). Children’s word problems matching multiplication and division calculations. In F. Furinghetti (Ed.),Proceedings of the Fifteen International Conference for the Psychology of Mathematics (pp. 80–87). Assisi, Italy: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Guilford, J. P. (1967).The nature of human intelligence. New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hashimoto, Y. (1987). Classroom practice of problem solving in Japanese elementary schools. In J. Becker & T. Miwa (Eds.),Proceedings of the U.S.-Japan seminar on mathematical problem solving (pp. 94–119). Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haylock, D. W. (1987). A framework for assessing mathematical creativity in school children.Educational Studies in Mathematics, 18, 59–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keil, G. E. (1965). Writing and solving original problems as a means of improving verbal arithmetic problem solving ability.Dissertation Abstracts, 25, 7109–7110. (University microfilms No. 65-2376).

    Google Scholar 

  • Krutetskii, V. A. (1976).The psychology of mathematical abilities in school children. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leung, S. S. (1993). The relation of mathematical knowledge and creative thinking to the mathematical problem posing of prospective elementary school teachers on tasks differing in numerical information content. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Pittsburgh.

  • Leung, S. S. (1994). On analyzing problem-posing processes: A study of prospective elementary teachers differing in mathematics knowledge. In J. P. da Ponte & J. F. Matos (Eds.),Proceedings of the 18th International conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education, (pp. 168–175). Lisbon, Portugal: International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leung, S. S. (1995).A study on prospective and practising teachers’ problem posing behaviors. Technical report of research funded by National Science Council of Taiwan. (In Chinese).

  • Leung, S. S. (1996). Problem Posing as Assessments: Reflections and Re-constructions.The Mathematics Educators, 1 (2), 159–171.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leung, S. S. (1997). On the role of creative thinking in problem posing.Zentralbatt fur Didaktik der Mathematik (ZDM), International Review on Mathematical Education, 97(2), 48–52.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (1989).Curriculum and evaluation standards for school mathematics. Reston, VA: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (1991).Professional standards for teaching mathematics. Reston, VA: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Newell, A., & Simon, H. A. (1972).Human problem solving. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perez, J. A. (1985).Effects of student-generated problems on problem solving performance. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Teachers College, Columbia University.

  • Polya, G. (1945).How to solve it (2nd ed.). New York: Doubleday.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reusser, K. (1986).Problem solving beyond the logic of things: Textual and contextual effects on understanding and solving word problems. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, San Francisco, CA. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 270327).

  • Silver, E. A. (1994). On mathematical problem posing.For the Learning of Mathematics, 14(1), 19–28.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silver, E. A., Mamona, J., Leung, S. S., & Kenney, P. A. (1996). Posing mathematical problems: An exploratory study.Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 27(3), 293–309.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Torrance, E. P. (1966).Torrance tests of creative thinking: Norms-technical manual. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Personell Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winograd, K. (1991).Writing, solving and sharing original math story problems: Case studies in the cognitive behavior of fifth grade children. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Northern Colorado.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Leung, S.S., Silver, E.A. The role of task format, mathematics knowledge, and creative thinking on the arithmetic problem posing of prospective elementary school teachers. Math Ed Res J 9, 5–24 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03217299

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03217299

Keywords

Navigation