Is Mathematics A Science Branch? Mathematics Teacher Candidates’ Perceptions of Science And Mathematics

The achievements that scientific and technological developments bring to humanity make science an important part of our social life. However, it is not so easy to define the concept of science which has such a significant place in contemporary society, and to specify which area is inside the boundaries of science and which is outside. It is, in fact, a matter of debate whether mathematics that we use in many areas from our daily lives to scientific and technological studies, and that is indispensable for us is actually a science or not. In this study, this subject was discussed and mathematics teacher candidates’ perceptions of science and mathematics in general terms and their thoughts about the science-mathematics relationship that occurred in the light of these perceptions were analyzed. Qualitative methodology was taken as a basis in the determination of the study group, in the data collection resources and in the analysis of the data. The participants were 38 (20 male, 18 female) mathematics teacher candidates studying at the faculty of education of a state university in the study group. The Perception of Science and Mathematics Form (PSMF), which was developed by researchers and consists of seven open-ended questions, was used to collect the data of the study. Data obtained by open-ended questions were analysed with content analysis technique. When the research findings were examined, it was seen that participants cannot clearly distinguish between science and technology, they try to express a single hierarchical way of delivering scientific information while explaining the scientific method, they consider the mathematical knowledge production process as problem solving and proof process and a significant part of the participants considered the mathematics as a branch of science while some of them regarded it as an auxiliary field