RUME 25
2023
Omaha, Nebraska
Values, Methods, and Facts: How Do Math and Science Align and Differ from the Perspectives of Mathematicians and Biologists?
Page: 208
Despite the interrelated nature of math and science, limited work has characterized mathematicians’ and scientists’ beliefs about each other’s disciplines or courses. In this study, we use nine interviews with mathematicians and biologists to characterize the interrelationship of community values, methods, and accepted facts in math and science and their relationship to introductory courses. Results include similar descriptions of biology and of what scientists do by all participants, but differing characterizations of what math is and what mathematicians do and claims that math courses do not teach students what they need. Implications include a need for the mathematical community to better align introductory course material with their values so that people outside the community better understand what mathematicians value and do.