MATHEMATICAL THINKING STYLES – AN EMPIRICAL STUDY

Abstract: In the study described in this paper, mathematical thinking styles of 15 and 16 year old pupils shall be reconstructed. In the actual discussion on mathematics there already exist classifications of thinking styles: F. Klein (1892, quoted by Tobies 1987) for example, distinguishes the thinking styles of the “analyst”, the “geometer” and the “philosopher”, while Burton (1995) describes a visual, an analytic and a conceptual thinking style. Some of these classifications were developed intuitively or through empirical examinations, and the study only concluded practising mathematicians but no pupils learning mathematics. In this paper it will be shown among others, how mathematical thinking styles have been reconstructed in the study until present. 1. Introduction an