Processes Applied by Students in Problem Solving

With the development of this research, we inquired to determine the problem solving strategies used by fourth year high school students. For this purpose, the strategies were identified and then they were classified. The theory underpinning this research is based on Ausubel's significant learning theory, according to which students assimilate knowledge in two ways, one in a mechanical way and the other in a significant way. The research design is non-experimental and descriptive; to carry it out, a questionnaire and a semi-structured interview were applied to a group of students selected through a non-probabilistic sampling technique. From this process, it was possible to determine that students mostly employ problem solving strategies using mechanical processes and meaningful processes in their resolution. However, it was also determined that in spite of employing both mechanical and meaningful processes, a large part of the students do not solve the problems or do not make a meaningful reflection on the methods applied.