Interação entre pares durante a realização de tarefas matemáticas: uma análise dos padrões de comunicação observados

Abstract

In this study, one of qualitative nature, we sought to investigate possible changes on quality and intensity of interaction between peers according to the type of mathematical task proposed. The research was carried out in a public school of Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, with students from the seventh grade. The main tool used for empirical data gathering was participant observation. The empirical material constitute the transcription of the peer students interactions produced from the records of observation and audio and video recordings during the accomplishing of mathematical tasks in classroom. The theoretical referential that subsided our analysis was Vygotskys historical-cultural theory and Bakhtins studies on the field of language. The initial analysis of eight couples of students evinced three communicative profiles between the partners: the equalitarian partnership, the featured partner, and couple negation. Later, we focused our analysis on the interactions of two couples of girl students which communicative pattern was substantially altered from the changing on the structure of the task proposed. Our analysis reinforced findings already presented in previous researches about the interference of elements such as gender and the configuration of the couple in relation to the ability level among the partners as relevant on establishing a successful partnership. We characterized what we call efficient communication and highlighted an aspect not yet mentioned in the revised literature as a determinant of communication patterns: the willingness to collaborate. This aspect revealed in our data point to a field potentially capable of being explored in future researches.