The relationship between prospective mathematics teachers' conceptions on constructing mathematical proof and their self-efficacy beliefs towards mathematics

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine prospective mathematics teachers' conceptions on constructing proof and their self-efficacy beliefs towards mathematics and to reveal the relationship between these two affective variables. The survey model was used in this study. The study was conducted with 76 prospective mathematics teachers who were fourth-year students at the department of elementary mathematics teaching in a state university. In view of the study, it was found that the prospective mathematics teachers' conceptions on constructing proof and their self-efficacy beliefs towards mathematics were at a moderate level. It was determined that self-efficacy beliefs towards mathematics was a significant predictor of the conceptions on constructing proof, and 39% of total variance of the conceptions on constructing proof could be explained with self-efficacy beliefs towards mathematics.