Research on Mathematical Reasoning in the Past Five Years

Abstract

Mathematical reasoning is the process through which students gradually construct and develop complex logical thinking and operational abilities. In recent years, with the continuous advancement of educational reform, mathematical reasoning has been recognized as one of the essential competencies for students. Simultaneously, international assessments such as PISA and TIMSS have placed increasing emphasis on reasoning skills. Therefore, the study of mathematical reasoning is indispensable. While there has been considerable research on mathematical reasoning in recent years, a comprehensive and systematic review in this area is still lacking. A literature review of 37 international studies on mathematical reasoning was conducted via the Web of Science, focusing on publications from the past five years. Based on the analysis, this paper draws the following conclusions: (1) Currently, scholars' research on mathematical reasoning mainly includes three aspects: factors influencing mathematical reasoning, strategies for cultivating mathematical reasoning, and the classification of mathematical reasoning; (2) The research on the factors influencing mathematical reasoning is the most extensive at present, covering a wide range, but there is a lack of articles that comprehensively summarize the factors influencing mathematical reasoning; the research on the classification of mathematical reasoning is relatively abundant, but the research subjects have certain limitations, and there is no systematic study on how students' mathematical reasoning abilities change with age; the research on the strategies for cultivating mathematical reasoning is relatively scarce, and the proposed strategies are rather vague, lacking large-scale and long-term tracking experimental studies; (3) The current research has not involved the study of differences in mathematical reasoning. Therefore, it is necessary to further explore the research on strategies for cultivating mathematical reasoning, the classification of mathematical reasoning, factors influencing mathematical reasoning, and the differences in mathematical reasoning in the future.