RESEARCH IN MATHEMATICS EDUCATION - METHO DOLOGICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Research in mathematics education has shown significant changes in the last 25 years. The presence of qualitative methods has helped researc hers to investigate in detail aspects related to the process used by s tudents to understand mathematical ideas. The development of the cogni tive sciences has played an important role in the acceptance of the qu alitative paradigm in the field of mathematics education. The aim of t his paper is to discuss criteria that are important to enhance the use of qualitative methodology in the study of the learning of mathematic s. For example, the presentation of the research context, rationale of the method, and the illustration and discussion of limitations of the analysis are important components addressed throughout the paper. The discussion of these components helps to understand the value of this research and also provides basis for the transfer of these methods to other similar studies. In addition, some results from studies in mathe matical problem solving are presented as an example of this type of qu alitative research.