The Role of Cooperative, Competitive, and Individualistic Learning Styles on First Grade Students` Problem Solving Performance

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to investigate the role of interpersonal cooperation, competition, and individualistic learning styles on first-grade students` problem solving performance. The sample of the study consisted of (91) first grade students intentionally selected from three sections. Those students were registered in the Model School of Yarmouk University in Jordan during the school year 2002/2003. They were randomly assigned to three conditions (cooperative, competitive, and individualistic). Students in each section were stratified into three levels on the basis of achievement (high, medium, and low). Students in each group were given problems that required categorization, retrieving, synthesizing, and solving math problems. The results of the study revealed that in cooperative situation the problem solving performance of students was significantly higher than the performance of students who worked competitively or individually.