수학과 수학교육학의 학문학적 비교연구 - 연구 방법을 중심으로 -

Comparative Study of Mathematics and Mathematics Education as an Academic Field - Focusing on Research Method -

본 연구는 수학교육학의 기초학문이 되는 수학과 다학문적인 성격을 띤 수학교육학을 학문학적으로 비교할 때 수학과 비교되는 수학교육학의 학문적 특징을 형식과학 대비 경험과학에 대한 논의를 중심으로 전개했다. 또한 연구방법을 중심으로 수학교육학의 기반이 되는 교육학, 심리학과 같은 사회과학과 수학교육학의 비교를 통해 수학교육학의 연구 방법적 특징에 대해 문헌연구를 통해 고찰해보았다. 본 연구에 따르면, 수학교육학은 연구 방법적 측면에서 자연과학 이라기보다는 사회과학의 성격을 많이 가지고 있으며, 형식과학으로서의 수학과 그 외 수학교육학의 인접학문들과는 구별되는 독특한 특징을 가지고 있다는 사실을 알 수 있었다. 따라서 각 학문영역 연구의 주장하는 바의 정당성은 전혀 다른 시각으로 이해되어야 한다.

The purpose of this thesis is to discuss the characteristic methods of Mathematics Education. However, it is not simple to find the proper research method of Mathematics Education since Mathematics Education deals with the practice of teaching and learning mathematics, as well as the topics of scholarly research on the practice. Issues on Mathematics Education might vary with the epidemical aspects, which are basic attitudes toward the knowledge and understanding about Mathematics. Thus, this thesis will discuss two questions: First, What are the distinguishing characteristics of Mathematics Education as a field of study, when compared with ones of mathematics? Second, What are the characteristic methods of Mathematics Education, when compared with ones of other academic fields? For solving those questions, this thesis starts from meanings of science and education. And it also classifies Mathematics as formal science whereas Mathematics Education as social science by showing differences between Mathematics and Mathematics Education: research subject of Mathematics targets on mathematics itself and it uses the deductive method. On the other hand, Mathematics Education research handles the practice of mathematics of students and uses plausible reasoning. Also, it will also show why Mathematics Education shares lots of aspects with social science, not with natural science, which has many different characteristics from those of social science. Many researchers have agreed that Education should be categorized into the social science but misplaced Mathematics Education and Science Education into the natural science. It is true that physics and chemistry are natural science. And also it should be said that pure science is formal science. But it should be considered that just like Education, Mathematics Education and Science Education are in the category of social science.