Abstract:

The purpose of this research is to identify the conceptual images of primary mathematics teachers candidates to the right concept in the three-dimensional Oakland space. The study was conducted in the 2019-2020 educational year with 80 bachelor students registered in the third class in the Primary Mathematics Teaching Program of a state university in the province of İzmir. The design of the study is defined as a model of state study from the quality research methods. Three open end questions developed by the researcher for the identification of the concept images for the correct concept of the teacher candidates have been applied. 12 students have been selected with maximum diversity sampling. The findings obtained from semi-configured clinical interviews with the selected students were thoroughly studied through content analysis. When the concept images are determined to the correct concept of the teacher candidates, the concept definition-cover image structure of Tall and Vinner (1981) has been moved in light of the correct concept of the teacher candidates. According to the results of the data analysis, the teacher’s candidates often put the correct concept in their minds in the framework of the closed equation of truth. It is also concluded that the conceptual images formed by everyday life experiences are more durable.