NotesFAQContact Us
Collection
Advanced
Search Tips
Back to results
Peer reviewed Peer reviewed
PDF on ERIC Download full text
ERIC Number: EJ1262396
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020-Jun
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-2148-3868
EISSN: N/A
Divergent Thinking and Convergent Thinking: Are They Promoted in Mathematics Textbooks?
Bingölbali, Erhan; Bingölbali, Ferhan
International Journal of Contemporary Educational Research, v7 n1 p240-252 Jun 2020
This study explores whether mathematics tasks in primary school mathematics textbooks provide opportunities for divergent and convergent thinking. Four mathematics textbooks (one from each of first to fourth grades) are examined for this purpose. A task is divided into three segments for the analysis and the segments are named as the beginning, the intermediary, and the end. These segments are analysed in terms of the numbers of entry points, solution methods, and correct outcomes respectively. The modes of the segments enable us to identify six different tasks. Tasks that definitively have an open-ending (multiple correct outcomes) are considered to have divergent thinking features and those which have only one correct outcome are deemed to have convergent thinking characteristics. The study reveals that the textbooks provide opportunities for both divergent and convergent thinking, yet more chances are particularly given for convergent thinking. The findings are discussed in relation to divergent and convergent thinking alongside creativity and some implications are provided for textbooks studies.
International Journal of Contemporary Educational Research. e-mail: ijceroffice@gmail.com; Web site: http://ijcer.net
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Turkey
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A