Middle school seventh grade students' generalization processes of patterns: Strategies and cognitive demand

The aim of this study is to explore the strategies used by seventh grade middle school students in the generalization process of pattern tasks and the cognitive demand levels they put forth. The case study design was used in the study conducted with a qualitative approach. The participants of the study are nine seventh grade students. Personal information form, Pattern Test and Pattern Interview Form were used as data collection tools in the study. Pattern Interview Form consists of three linear pattern tasks consisting of table, number and figure representations. Task-based interview was used as the data collection method. Data analysis was carried out with deductive thematic analysis. According to the study findings, the students reached the near terms of the pattern tasks with recursive, contextual and vertical-horizontal grouping strategies. Contextual strategy is the most used strategy when finding middle and far terms and general rule of pattern tasks. In inverse problems, the most preferred strategies are statement and solution of an equation, and correct inversion of the order of operations. While the students were finding the near, middle and far distance terms and general rule of the pattern tasks, they displayed cognitive demand at the level of disconnected and connected operations.