A Study on Mathematical Thinking Skills of Higher Secondary School Students With Respect to Some Selected Variables

The present study was undertaken to investigate the mathematical thinking skills of higher secondary school students. Mathematical thinking skills are essential for developing logical reasoning, critical thinking, problem-solving ability, creativity, and decision-making skills among students. These skills enable learners to understand mathematical concepts effectively and apply them in academic and real-life situations. The study adopted the descriptive survey method. A sample of 200 higher secondary school students was selected from various schools in Chennai District, Tamil Nadu. The Mathematical Thinking Skills Scale was used for data collection. The study aimed to determine the mathematical thinking skills among the higher secondary school students and to identify differences in mathematical thinking skills with respect to gender, class of study and medium of instruction. The collected data were analyzed using appropriate statistical techniques such as Mean, Standard Deviation, and t-test. The findings revealed that differences were observed between male and female students as well as between XI and XII standard students and medium of instruction in certain dimensions of mathematical thinking skills. The study highlights the importance of providing suitable learning experiences that encourage reasoning, analysis, creativity, and problem-solving among students.