A survey of mathematics undergraduates' interaction with proof: some implications for mathematics education

Proving is an essential activity in mathematics but there are serious difficulties encountered by mathematics undergraduates in engaging with proof in the intended way. This article presents an initial analysis of (i) a quantitative study of a large sample of UK mathematics undergraduates which describes their declared perceptions about proof, and (ii) a qualitative study of a subsample of these students which analyses their actual proof perceptions as well as their actual proof practices. A comparison is also made between their publicly declared perceptions of proof and their personal proclivities in proving.