Effectiveness of cognitive guidelines in improving mathematical problem-solving skills in female students with mental disability attending 3rd grade of middle school

Introduction: Although a massive amount of research have been conducted on the effectiveness of cognitive guidelines related to helping students with learning disability, there is paucity of data regarding the effectiveness of such guidelines in addressing the needs of students with mental disabilit...

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Main Authors: Sayede Somaye Jalilabkenar, Mohammad Ashoori, Gita Movallali
Format: Article
Language:fas
Published: Vesnu Publications 2012-07-01
Series:مجله پژوهش در علوم توانبخشی
Online Access:http://jrrs.mui.ac.ir/index.php/jrrs/article/view/415
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author Sayede Somaye Jalilabkenar
Mohammad Ashoori
Gita Movallali
author_facet Sayede Somaye Jalilabkenar
Mohammad Ashoori
Gita Movallali
author_sort Sayede Somaye Jalilabkenar
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Although a massive amount of research have been conducted on the effectiveness of cognitive guidelines related to helping students with learning disability, there is paucity of data regarding the effectiveness of such guidelines in addressing the needs of students with mental disability. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of cognitive guidelines on the improvement of mathematical problem-solving skills among female students with mental disability who were attending the 3rd Grade of middle schools across Tehran province, Iran. Materials and Methods: The present study had an experimental design with pre-test, post-test and control group. Participants were 30 girls with mental disability studying at 3rd Grade of middle schools. The participants were recruited via the multi-stage cluster method from special education schools of Tehran Province and were randomly assigned to either an experimental (n = 15) or a control (n = 15) group. Students in the experimental group received instruction combined with cognitive guidelines for 15 sessions while the controls were not provided with any guideline on the same sessions. The Wechsler intelligence test and a teacher-made test were respectively used to match the groups in terms of IQ and to measure the improvement of mathematical problem-solving skills. The data was statistically analyzed through descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, frequency and tables) and t test. Results: The results of this study showed that there was a significant increase in mathematical problem-solving skills of mentally disabled students in the experimental group (for whom cognitive guidelines were used) compared to those in the control group (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Problem-solving is one of many cognitive abilities that have been impaired in the students with mental disability. Instruction about cognitive strategies may result in the improvement of mathematical problem-solving skills of such students.  The present results may be a valuable evidence to prove the effectiveness of cognitive strategy instruction in enhancing mathematical problem-solving skills in mentally disabled girls. Keywords: Cognitive guideline, Mathematical problem-solving, Mental disability
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spelling doaj.art-2027ec8551ae4c5fa56db30797e686f72022-12-22T02:51:36ZfasVesnu Publicationsمجله پژوهش در علوم توانبخشی1735-75192008-26062012-07-018339140110.22122/jrrs.v8i3.415280Effectiveness of cognitive guidelines in improving mathematical problem-solving skills in female students with mental disability attending 3rd grade of middle schoolSayede Somaye Jalilabkenar0Mohammad Ashoori1Gita Movallali2MSc Student in Psychology and Exceptional Children Education, University of Social Welfare & Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, IranPhD Student in Educational Psychology, Department of Educational Psychology, Roudehen Branch, Islamic Azad University, Roudehen, IranPhD in Psychology and Exceptional Children Education, Academic Member, University of Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, IranIntroduction: Although a massive amount of research have been conducted on the effectiveness of cognitive guidelines related to helping students with learning disability, there is paucity of data regarding the effectiveness of such guidelines in addressing the needs of students with mental disability. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of cognitive guidelines on the improvement of mathematical problem-solving skills among female students with mental disability who were attending the 3rd Grade of middle schools across Tehran province, Iran. Materials and Methods: The present study had an experimental design with pre-test, post-test and control group. Participants were 30 girls with mental disability studying at 3rd Grade of middle schools. The participants were recruited via the multi-stage cluster method from special education schools of Tehran Province and were randomly assigned to either an experimental (n = 15) or a control (n = 15) group. Students in the experimental group received instruction combined with cognitive guidelines for 15 sessions while the controls were not provided with any guideline on the same sessions. The Wechsler intelligence test and a teacher-made test were respectively used to match the groups in terms of IQ and to measure the improvement of mathematical problem-solving skills. The data was statistically analyzed through descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, frequency and tables) and t test. Results: The results of this study showed that there was a significant increase in mathematical problem-solving skills of mentally disabled students in the experimental group (for whom cognitive guidelines were used) compared to those in the control group (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Problem-solving is one of many cognitive abilities that have been impaired in the students with mental disability. Instruction about cognitive strategies may result in the improvement of mathematical problem-solving skills of such students.  The present results may be a valuable evidence to prove the effectiveness of cognitive strategy instruction in enhancing mathematical problem-solving skills in mentally disabled girls. Keywords: Cognitive guideline, Mathematical problem-solving, Mental disabilityhttp://jrrs.mui.ac.ir/index.php/jrrs/article/view/415
spellingShingle Sayede Somaye Jalilabkenar
Mohammad Ashoori
Gita Movallali
Effectiveness of cognitive guidelines in improving mathematical problem-solving skills in female students with mental disability attending 3rd grade of middle school
مجله پژوهش در علوم توانبخشی
title Effectiveness of cognitive guidelines in improving mathematical problem-solving skills in female students with mental disability attending 3rd grade of middle school
title_full Effectiveness of cognitive guidelines in improving mathematical problem-solving skills in female students with mental disability attending 3rd grade of middle school
title_fullStr Effectiveness of cognitive guidelines in improving mathematical problem-solving skills in female students with mental disability attending 3rd grade of middle school
title_full_unstemmed Effectiveness of cognitive guidelines in improving mathematical problem-solving skills in female students with mental disability attending 3rd grade of middle school
title_short Effectiveness of cognitive guidelines in improving mathematical problem-solving skills in female students with mental disability attending 3rd grade of middle school
title_sort effectiveness of cognitive guidelines in improving mathematical problem solving skills in female students with mental disability attending 3rd grade of middle school
url http://jrrs.mui.ac.ir/index.php/jrrs/article/view/415
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