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EXPLORING HIGH-ACHIEVING STUDENTS’ IMAGES OF MATHEMATICIANS

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Abstract

The aim of this study is to describe the images that a group of high-achieving Mexican students hold of mathematicians. For this investigation, we used a research method based on the Draw-A-Scientist Test (DAST) with a sample of 63 Mexican high school students. The group of students’ pictorial and written descriptions of mathematicians assisted us in characterising their predominant image of a mathematician. The image that emerged was that of a male person dressed in a casual or formal fashion, with a formal hairstyle and, in some cases, wearing glasses. Furthermore, he is a happy, intelligent person, who enjoys his work and is passionate about mathematics. We discuss some implications of the results and suggest future work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto Politécnico Nacional, CICATA Legaria, Programa de Matemática Educativa, Calzada Legaria No. 694, Col. Irrigación C.P. 11500, Del. Miguel Hidalgo, Mexico City, Mexico

    Mario Sánchez Aguilar, Alejandro Rosas, Juan Gabriel Molina Zavaleta & Avenilde Romo-Vázquez

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  1. Mario Sánchez Aguilar
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  2. Alejandro Rosas
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  3. Juan Gabriel Molina Zavaleta
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  4. Avenilde Romo-Vázquez
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Correspondence to Mario Sánchez Aguilar.

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Aguilar, M.S., Rosas, A., Zavaleta, J.G.M. et al. EXPLORING HIGH-ACHIEVING STUDENTS’ IMAGES OF MATHEMATICIANS. Int J of Sci and Math Educ 14, 527–548 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-014-9586-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-014-9586-1

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