A Quantitative-qualitative Analysis of Selected Social Science Generalizations in Social Studies Textbooks in the Intermediate Grades

Abstract

A 4 × 4 Latin Square design with trend analysis was utilized to determine if practice in problem solving, accompanied by questions directed toward developing types of behavior characteristic of successful problem solvers could be a method of improving selected problem-solving skills. Results were that Ss’, ability to extract information from the statement of a problem and combine operations in order to arrive at solutions did improve significantly while ability to retrieve information and offer correct overt responses did not improve significantly. Indications are that, although certain problem-solving skills may lend themselves to immediate improvement, improvement in the product or final solution to problems may come after a prolonged period of practice in using improved problem-solving skills.