MY RESPONSE TO READING FROM WHEELER,WESHAR,BELL AND CALEB

Pearl defined research as a way of trying to solve a general problem by the use of many other specific questions to give partial answers to the general problem. Different people from different discipline work on quite different questions yet they are all aimed at progressing in the understanding of the general problem. This implies that answers collected from different people are analysed and compiled to give solution of solving certain mathematical concepts. This research method has prove to give significant positive results. Pearl also does not agree that solving mathematics problems require use of one particular mathematical research guideline, he encourages many researchers to come up with  genuine research program which will be accepted by many researchers and accumulated to gain continuity and progress. Mathematics has taken long since research was focused and directed towards its development. The last time was the period of new maths and then followed by the current back to basics,this express great disappointment to the public with the current situation in mathematics education.There is the growing need of people who can handle mathematics fluently and also mastering mathematics basic concepts as compared to mastering basic language skills.We are to ask ourselves, what could be the problem in learning mathematics as compared to the learning of natural language.In view of Pearl , the central problem of maths education is total ignorance about cognitive processes involved in acquisition of mathematics concepts.The effort put by curriculum innovators did not fulfil hopes that accompanied introduction of schools.Research for it to achieve good result and make learning mathematics simple, easy and enjoyable, it has to concentrate in understanding the process involved in acquisition of mathematics as is in acquisition of natural language and other human skills which seems to be example of a successful learning.They need to use psychological or sociological questions while carrying out research. A call to educators is also required for them to try discover why a child acquire knowledge about abstract objects in ordinary language and what could be the parallel to it mathematically,how does one reason in ordinary language and what part are transferable in mathematics.These questions should be answered by examining the events of learning probably computing it, of recent scientist have been using this method though they are more concerned with formal description of theories and not acquisition of competence to describe things formally by means of maths.Allan Bell said that its obvious that what is taught is not what is learnt, giving example how pupils are taught several decimal places but end up solving few number of decimal places.This is why mathematical tables and use of calculater come in use.The learning of integers also give learners a lot of difficulties, as a result he suggest use of experimental teaching which has successfully been used and performed in relation to Piagetian conservationists. Inhelder,Sinclair,and Boret 1974 taught conservation of quantities and length and class inclusion obtained permanent gain and a transfer to untaught concepts. Gelman 1969 taught numbers and length using experimental method and had a spectacular success by presenting situation of shortfall and giving immediate feedback of correctness.    QUESTION. Do you agree that there is no a particular rule in formulation of mathematics research questions  give reason