Investigation of the relationship between triarchic abilities and perceptions of problem solving skills in primary school 4th grade students

This study aims to determine the relationship between triarchic intelligence scores and problem-solving skills of primary school 4th-grade students. In addition, the difference between students' triarchic intelligence scores and problem-solving skill scores according to academic achievement and gender was tested. A relational scanning model was used in the research. The sample of the study is 4th-grade students (426) in the Tarsus district of Mersin city. In the research, the "Sternberg Triarchic Abilities Test" and "Problem Solving Inventory for Primary Education Children" were used as data collection tools. In addition, school scores were used. Rasch analysis was performed with Jmetrik 4.0 program to determine the validity and reliability of the data obtained from the Sternberg Triarchic Abilities Test. Subsequently, analyzes were made using the SPSS 22.0 package program. In line with the general and sub-goals of the study, frequency, percentage, arithmetic mean, standard deviation, unrelated samples t-test, Mann Whitney U test, and Kruskal Wallis test was used. Pearson's correlation analysis was used to reveal the relationships between variables. As a result of the research, the triarchic intelligence scores of the students were found to be at a medium level in terms of general, practical, and creative intelligence. It was found to be weak in terms of analytical intelligence. The triarchic intelligence scores and academic achievement scores of the students do not significantly change according to gender. It was observed that students' perceptions of problem-solving skills were at a high level. While there was a statistically significant difference between the scores of students' problem-solving skills and academic achievement, no significant difference was found in terms of gender. It is seen that there is a positive and moderately significant relationship between students' triarchic intelligence levels and their perceptions of problem-solving skills. As a result, it is seen that students' triarchic intelligence and problem-solving skills are in a linear relationship with each other. In other words, as students' triarchic intelligence scores increase, their problem-solving skills will also increase. Keywords: Primary school 4th grade, problem-solving, Sternberg triarchic abilities test, triarchic intelligence, intelligence