Examining the Statistical Process Experiences of 8th Grade Students

Abstract

This study aims at making 8th grade students go through a statistical process and gain experience in this matter and revealing their behaviors, experiences, and difficulties at each stage of this process. Activities were designed in a way allowing the students to experience a statistical process. Then the students were made to get involved in these activities through group work. Data were collected via statistical process activities, the reflection papers of the students concerning the process, and the video-recordings of classroom discussions. The activities were prepared based on Ben-Zvi and Arcavi (2001) as well as expert opinions. The students posed questions that could be directly answered by the help of relevant texts rather than problems that could be solved through data analysis. The groups formed their tables and charts by focusing on just one feature or variable though the data in the activities involved features of more than one variable. As making an inference by interpreting data requires experience, it is recommended in this study that activities be prepared in a way allowing the use of skills of this sort.