Details

Sebastian Geisler ^[a]

Mathematical modelling with experiments: students sense of validation and its relevance

Pages: 265-280
Received: 1 May 2022
Accepted in revised form: 28 April 2023
Mathematics Subject Classification: 97M10, 97C70.
Keywords: mathematical modelling, experiments, validation.
Author address:
[a]: University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany

Abstract: Mathematical modelling is important yet challenging. Especially the validation of ones model seems to be a hurdle for many students. Thus, fostering students validation competence is an important aim in mathematics lessons. In this paper, I follow an idea to foster model validation that has been discussed in the literature before: the combination of modelling with scientific experiments. An analysis of the validation ideas from 111 students working on two different modelling tasks with experiments shows that a sufficient validation is not self-evident. In contrast, dealing with measurement errors that occur during experimentation might even hinder validation. It seems that some students put more trust in their mathematical models than in their experimental data and misinterpret the relation between data and model. Practical implications of these results are discussed.

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