A research study on the social validity of the Selective Problem Solving model in mathematics education for 6th and 7th grade gifted and non-gifted students

In this study, the social validity of Selective Problem Solving Model (SPS) in Math education was investigated. The purpose of the SPS is to enhance students? creative problem solving skills and to solve problems creatively. Selective, analogical and insightful thinking skills are used during the use of the SPS. The Model includes six stages: problem definition, problem identification, problem solution, problem construction, problem solution, and reflection. Although the SPS is hypothesized to be an effective model to enhance students? creative thinking, this hypothesis has not been investigated yet.The participants of the study included 235 sixth and seventh grade students from two schools and the Education Programs for Talented Students (EPTS), a special after-school program for talented students at Anadolu University. The schools are located in Eskişehir. A four-hour lesson plan was developed for each grade using the SPS and taught in students? mathematics classes. After the instruction, a 20-item scale was administered in each classroom to collect data about students? perceptions of the SPS:. One-sample t-test was used to analyze data. The criterion was set on 2 as a test value (mostly agreement).Data analysis showed that students had high satisfactions about the use of the SPS in mathematics education. All of the items in the scale were rated by the participants above the criterion value ?2? with most of the differences being statistically significant. viSixth graders rated the items highest compared to the other groups. Findings show strong evidence in terms of the social validity or student acceptability of the SPS.Keywords: Selective Problem Solving Model (SPS), analogy, mathematical creativity, problem solving, creativity.