12th Grade Students Interpretation of Trigonometric Functions on the Unit Circle with APOS Theory Investigation*

Authors : Gamze Bağ, Gözdegül Arık Karamık

Pages : 16-29

View : 52 | Download : 59

Publication Date : 2024-06-29

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :The APOS Theory is a theory that describes how the learner structures and constructs mathematical concepts. This study aims to investigate trigonometry, which is one of the subjects most frequently asked in the university entrance exam and is also the subject that students who graduate from high school may encounter when they enter the university, with the APOS Theory. The study was structured as a case study, one of the qualitative case patterns. In this study, there are 29 participants studying in the 12th grade of different public high schools whom were selected by simple random sampling method. The participants were first applied the Evaluation Test (ET). Based on the results of the ET, three students with the highest academic success and three students with the lowest academic success were interviewed. Each student was interviewed three times, and each interview consisted of four questions and sub-questions. Data from the interviews were evaluated according to the rubric prepared by the researchers. The data were analysed with content and descriptive analysis methods and were divided into sub-themes in accordance with the themes of action, process and object, which are the phases of the APOS Theory. Findings from the study have revealed that there is a relationship between students\' making sense of mathematical concepts and their academic success and that they present different attitudes for the APOS Theory phases.
Keywords : apos teori, ortaöğretim, trigonometri