The effect of realistic mathematics education approach on student success in teaching 10th grade data, counting and probability unit and investigation of student opinions

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of GME approach based teaching method on student achievement in teaching 10th class "Data, Counting and Probability" unit and to reveal student views about this approach based teaching method. In this research, descriptive design, which is one of the mixed research methods, was used. Pretest-posttest control group semi-experimental desing was used in the quantitative phase of the research. GME approach based teaching method was applied to the students in the experimental group, while the control group was based on the traditional approach based teaching method (lecture and question-answer). Case study model was used in the qualitative phase of the research. The study was carried out with 60 students studying in the 10th grade of a high school in the district of Gevaş in the province of Van in the fall semester of 2018-2019 academic year. Data collection tools; In order to measure the success of the students' in both groups, a semi-structured interview form was applied to determine the opinions of the students' in the experimental group based on GME approach for "Data, Counting and Probability Achievement Test" (pre-test and post-test). The pilot application of the achievement test was carried out with 93 students' in 9th and 11th grade. The cronbach alpha reliability coefficient was found to be .87. In the analysis of quantitative data, independent samples t-test and paired samples t-test were used. The results were evaluated according to p = .01 significance level. Content analysis method was used to in the analyze of data obtained from the interview form. As a result, it was observed that the teaching method based on GME approach was more effective in student achievement than the traditional approach based teaching method. At the same time, it was determined that students' expressed positive opinions about the teaching method based on the GME approach. Key Words Realistic mathematics education, data, counting and probability, student success and opinions.