The effectiveness of the problem based learning method on secondary school students' mathematics achievement, mathematics self efficacy and problem solving skills

This study examines the effectiveness of the problem based learning method on secondary school students? mathematics achievement, mathematics self efficacy and problem solving skills. The implementation of the study has been carried out on the students at secondary school which implemantation permission has been got located in Çankaya, a county of Ankara. The study group was consisted of 26 students. At the selection of groups, it was noticed that the instruction was implemented by the same teacher. Experiemental and control groups were selected by drawing lots. The 1st group which was experiemental group covered 13 students and instructed by ?Problem Based Learning Method?, The 2nd group, control group covered 13 students where traditional instruction method was used. At the end of the study, after 30 hours, mathematics achievement test, mathematics self efficacy scale and performance skills have been applied. At this research, qualitative and quantitative results were found. Data were analyzed by SPSS program. As a qualitative method was run tu evaluate opinions, attitudes of the students who were instructed to the ?Problem Based Learning Method?, self appreciation, in group and between group evaluation forms were used. At the and of evaluations; The mathematics success of the students of the experiemental group where the problem based learning method was used, it was observed that the level of the points of success have significantly increased (.05) compared to that of control group which was instructed with traditional instruction method. The mathematics self efficacy of the students of the experiement group where the PBL method was used, it was observed that the level of the points of self efficacy have significantly increased (.05) compared to that of control group which was instructed with TIM (traditional instruction method). It was found that the problem based learning method has positive effect on students by means of evaluating of performance skills which covers problem solving, cause-effect relationships, inferring logical results and communication skills. By means of appreciating qualitative data results, it was found that of students have positive opinions about process of PBLM. Results were implemented and there were different recommendations at the end of the study.