A Belief Questionnaire about the Nature of Mathematics for Turkish Preservice Mathematics Teachers: An Exploratory Mixed Methods Study

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to develop a highly valid and reliable scalewhich determines pre-service mathematics teachers’ beliefs towards thenature of mathematics. The study was carried out using the exploratorymixed methods. The qualitative research design of the study was conductedwith a single case study and the quantitative research design was carriedout with a descriptive survey study. The participants of the qualitative part ofthe study are 53 senior pre-service mathematics teachers, selected byconvenient sampling method. The quantitative part of the study comprises499 participants, who are pre-service mathematics teachers, selected byconvenient sampling method. The data in the qualitative part of the studywere collected through a feedback form which has two open-endedquestions. The analysis of qualitative data was conducted by means ofsemantic content analysis. The results of the qualitative analysis of the studyrevealed that the mathematical beliefs of pre-service teachers are dividedinto four categories: tool-oriented, aim-oriented, progress-oriented, andfunction-oriented mathematical beliefs. Scale items were written based onthese four categories and other relevant scale items in the literature were notused at this stage. Validity-reliability studies, exploratory factor analysis,27% upper and lower group comparisons, item-total correlation andCronbach's Alpha values were calculated by applying the scale itemsobtained from this process to the pre-service teachers. The results of thestudy reveal a two-factor scale with a high validity and reliability.