• Research in Mathematical Education
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.135-158
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• 2022

This study aimed to building models to understand the relationships between reasoning resources and content knowledge. We applied Support Vector Machine and linear models to the data including fifth graders' scores in the Cornel Critical Thinking Test and the Iowa Assessments, demographic information, and learning science approach (a student-centered approach to learning called the Science Writing Heuristic [SWH] or traditional). The SWH model showing the relationships between critical thinking domains and academic achievement at grade 5 was developed, and its validity was tested across different learning environments. We also evaluated the stability of the model by applying the SWH models to the data of the grade levels. The findings can help mathematics educators understand how critical thinking and achievement relate to each other. Furthermore, the findings suggested that reasoning in mathematics classrooms can promote performance on standardized tests.