Problem-Solving Strategies Employed by 8th Grade Students While Solving Multiple Choice Questions in the Republic of Turkey History of Revolution and Kemalism Course

Abstract

The objective of this study is to examine the problem-solving approaches employed by 8th-grade students when tackling multiple-choice questions in the Turkish Republic Revolution History and Kemalism Course. Additionally, the study aims to ascertain the impact of these strategies on students' rates of success and overall academic performance. The present investigation was organized in accordance with a qualitative research methodology. The comprehensive and multi-faceted nature of this approach was deemed preferable. The study group comprises a collective of six students, all of whom are enrolled in the 8th grade at a public school located in the city center of Kars. These students possess varying levels of academic achievement in the course of Turkish Republic Revolution History and Kemalism. The students in the study group were determined by the purposeful sampling method. The participants of the study were instructed to engage in verbalized thinking sessions while solving multiple-choice questions related to the Turkish Republic Revolution History and Kemalism. The data collected from video recordings of the students' question-solving activities were digitized and subjected to content analysis. The findings of the study revealed that students with higher academic performance, who also provided accurate responses to the questions, employed a wider range and greater quantity of cognitive-metacognitive strategies in comparison to students with lower academic performance. Furthermore, in this study, it has been observed that students' use of cognitive-metacognitive strategies is a significant factor in reaching the correct answers to multiple-choice questions.