Date of Graduation

1987

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of Creative Drama methods on sixth-grade Mathematics instruction. Experimental and control differences and gender differences were analyzed using student scores of Mathematics achievement, attitudes toward Mathematics, and creativity. Teachers were trained in the methods of Creative Drama applied to Mathematics at the onset of the experiment. Once the pretests for the three dependent variables were given, the experimental groups received eight weeks of Creative Drama/Mathematics activities during their regular Mathematics classes. The control groups received textbook-oriented Mathematics instruction without any of the Creative Drama methods integrated into their classes. All students were then posttested with the Comprehensive Tests of Basic Skills (Mathematics Subtests 6 and 7); Attitudes Toward Mathematics; and the Group Inventory for Finding (Creative) Talent. The pretest and posttest scores were analyzed by means of Analysis of Covariance. In general, experiences with Creative Drama/Mathematics activities were shown to cause a significant increase in levels of Mathematics achievement in regard to Mathematics computation. The results of a comparison of subgroup means indicated that males and females in the experimental groups showed significantly higher scores in this area than the male control subjects. There were also positive trends toward significant increases in the identity and application of concepts and application for some groups. Experiences with Creative Drama/Mathematics activities were not shown to have a significant effect on attitudes toward Mathematics. The results of a comparison of subgroups means indicated that there were no significant differences between male and female attitudes toward Mathematics. Experiences with Creative Drama/Mathematics activities were not shown to significantly affect levels of creativity in sixth-grade students in general. However, results of the comparison of subgroups means indicated that female experimental subjects performed significantly higher in levels of creativity as compared to male experimental subjects.

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