Investigating 7th Grade Students’ Proof Levels About Quadrilaterals

Proof is considered to be an essential aspect of mathematics education from kindergarten through high school as highlighted by current educational reforms. The importance of proof has also been recognized by current curriculum in Turkey. This study aims to investigate 7th grade students proof schemes on the topic of quadrilaterals. According to the findings of the study, it is evident that the participants struggle to construct arguments to prove mathematical statements. The students, who are able to construct an argument to justify the correctness of the presented statements, construct arguments that are coded as empirical arguments. When asked to evaluate presented arguments, the majority of the participants find empirical arguments as the most convincing. Even though the students struggle to construct arguments to prove the correct mathematical statements, the majority of them are able to provide a valid counterexample to refute the incorrect mathematical statement