Abstract of the Dissertation Investigating Elementary School Students' Reasoning about Distributions in Various Chance Events Sibel Kazak -investigating Elementary School Students' Reasoning about Distributions in Various Chance Events

Data and chance are two related topics that deal with uncertainty, and statistics and probability are the mathematical ways of dealing with these two ideas, respectively (Moore, 1990). Unfortunately, existing literature reveals an artificial separation between probability and data analysis in both research and instruction, which some researchers (Shaughnessy, 2003; Steinbring, 1991) have already called attention to. In a response to the calls from other researchers (e.g., Shaughnessy, 2003) and recommendations from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM, 2000), this dissertation focused on the notion of distribution as a conceptual link between data and chance. The goal of this study was to characterize a conceptual corridor that contains possible conceptual trajectories taken by students based on their conceptions of probability and reasoning about distributions. A small-group teaching experiment was conducted with six fourth graders to investigate students' development of probability concepts and reasoning about distributions in various chance events over the course of seven weeks. Each student also participated in pre-and post-interviews to assess their