An Analysis of Domestic and International Research Trends of Mathematical Reasoning through Topic Modeling

Abstract

In order to understand the research trends in mathematical reasoning since 2000, this study analyzed 262 papers published in seven KCI journals and 381 papers published in five SSCI journals via topic modeling. The overall research topics were compared and contrasted between domestic journals and international journals. A more detailed analysis was conducted by considering different publication periods. The results showed that the main domestic research topics included, in order, geometry proof, mathematical justification, problem solving, pattern generalization, proportional reasoning, and statistical reasoning, whereas the main international research topics included, in order, proof and argument, teacher education, geometric reasoning, pattern generalization, problem solving, and statistical reasoning. The results of this study also showed that gifted students represented the most popular research target of domestic studies, while the process of mathematical reasoning was the main focus of international studies. This paper closes with implications on research targets including teachers, attention to the mathematical reasoning process, diversity of research topics, and new research topics that may guide future research on mathematical reasoning.

Keywords

• mathematical reasoning
• topic modeling
• research trends