Mathematical reasoning by undergraduate mathematics students

This doctoral research project aims to gain insight in the level and characteristics of mathematical reasoning by undergraduate mathematics students and to find ways to improve their mathematical reasoning.
 
The following questions will be investigated:
·         Which mathematical reasoning abilities can be identified?·         What mathematical reasoning skills are eligible for inclusion in undergraduate (bachelor) mathematics education?
·         How can mathematical reasoning be measured?
·         What are the mathematical reasoning abilities of mathematics students in the current bachelor programs of the KU Leuven and the University?
·         How can the educational context be adjusted to foster the mathematical reasoning abilities of these students?
 
Interventions will be implemented in the bachelor mathematics of two universities: KU Leuven and University of Groningen. Data will be collected by investigating students' mathematical reasoning in these two universities before, during and after the intervention, through task-based think-aloud interviews, observations, online tests and examination of exams. As such, the research will be primarily qualitative.