PROCEEDINGS OF THE 22ND ANNUAL CONFERENCE ON RESEARCH IN UNDERGRADUATE MATHEMATICS EDUCATION
2019
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
How do mathematicians describe mathematical maturity?
Page: 947
The concept of mathematical maturity is one that, for some, elicits clear meanings and perhaps illustrations of ideal mathematical students. Mathematicians have been reported to use this term in various ways, yet there is no clear or empirically based description of mathematical maturity at this time. This proposal explores existing descriptions of mathematical maturity as well as descriptions of the related concepts of mathematical intuition and mathematical beliefs. This proposal reports preliminary findings from interviews with mathematicians investigating their understandings of mathematical maturity. Preliminary results include three main components of mathematical maturity: ways of thinking about mathematics, mathematical intuition, and comfort with and competence in mathematics.