Analysis of 4th Grade Students' Problem Solving Skills in Terms of Several Variables

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine if the level of primary school students in solving problems differs according to some demographic variables. The research is descriptive type in the general survey method, it was carried out with quantitative research techniques. The sample of the study consisted of 587 primary school students in Grade 4. The data of the study was obtained by applying "Problem Solving Inventory for Primary School Children", developed by Serin, Bulut-Serin and Saygılı (2010). To analyze the data, t-test, was used to determine differences in test, after one-way ANOVA test Scheffer as complementary post-hoc analysis was used. The results of the analysis show a significant difference in terms of maternal educational level and type of school according to scale total scale scores of problem solving skill (p<0.05). No significant difference was found in terms of gender and level of parental education status (p>0.05). As a result of the research, organizing supportive trainings for the children experiencing shortage of problem solving skills have been suggested to their parents and teachers.

Keywords: Problem solving, Elementary school students, 4th grade.