Research Information System
Thesis Type: Doctorate
Institution Of The Thesis: Gazi University, Turkey
Approval Date: 2018
Thesis Language: Turkish
Student: Ceren Doğan
Supervisor: BELİR TECİMER
Abstract:The primary purpose of this research was to determine the effect of Piano- Assisted Music Activities on the mathematical reasoning skills of the preschoolers. This research was an experimental study. Experimental design with pre-test and post-test control group was used. The Early Mathematical Reasoning Ability Assessment Tool, developed by Ergül in 2014, was used for data collection. The sub-dimensions of the tool were measurement-induction, measurement-deduction, data analysis and probabilityinduction and data analysis and probability-deduction. The measurement-induction subdimension contains questions about measuring and comparing non-standard units and time sequencing, measurement-deduction sub-dimension includes understanding the accuracy of the results and verbal comparison problems. Data analysis and probability-induction subdimension involves knowing the features of shapes and creating graphics, data analysis and probability-deduction contains analyzing images and estimating the situation in the picture, reading the graphics and telling the results, and determining probability. An eightweek program of piano-assisted music activity plans were developed by the researcher for this study. The activity plans were evaluated by music education, preschool education and childhood development specialists. Based on the specialists' opinions, the activities were planned for twice a week with the duration of 20 minutes. For the reliability of the research, an eight-week pilot study of the music activities was held for eight preschoolers. In the pilot study, it was found that the activities were more effective in small groups. Therefore, the activities were decided to be done by dividing the classroom into groups of 8-10 children. After the pilot study, Ergül's tool was applied as pre-test to the study group of the research. The study group was two randomly selected preschool classes from Ankara province, Çankaya district. The study was done in the spring semester of 2016-2017 academic year. The pre-test scores were assessed by Non-parametric Mann- Whitney U Test in SPSS 6.0 for Windows program in order to evenly distribute the test score means of the experimental and control groups. Experimental and control groups consisted of 16 children each and the study group had 32 children in total. An equal distribution was also taken into account in terms of the demographic variables involved in the formation of the groups. Afterwards, for the trial period, the piano assisted music activities were applied twice a week to the experimental group, no action was taken for the control group. After the trial period of eight weeks, Ergül's tool was re-applied as post-test to the study group. Outcomes were evaluated from the statistical analyzes of the score means, standart deviations. Mann-Whitney U Test and Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test have been made for the statistical analysis. In conclusion of the study, the experiment group progressed in all of the ten sub-dimensions. Based on the outcomes, it was appropriate to state that Piano-Assisted Music Activities were effective in preschoolers' early mathematical reasoning skills.