On-line assessment of the process involved in maths problem-solving in fifth and sixth grade students: self-regulation and achievement

Abstract

The aim of this study was to test a method to assess the processes involved in mathematical problem solving, based on the Triple Task methodology and Self - Regulated Learning principles. This protocol was administered to 510 fifth and sixth grade students from Northern Spain, who carried out two mathematical tasks of varying difficulty. The results derived from the total sample indicated the presence of ineffective planning strategies and a lack of revision mechanisms. However, comparisons between groups with different achievement in the tasks revealed the sub - processes involved in planning (especially the use of representation strategies) as important determining factors in students' success rates, with these exerting a greater effect as task - difficulty increased.