Why Do Experts Pose Problems for Mathematics Competitions?

Abstract

Inspired by the recurrent findings on the steady decrease in students' interest in mathematics, this paper is concerned with sources of experts' motivation for posing problems for mathematics competitions. Twenty-six experts from nine countries participated in the study. The inductive analysis of the data suggests that experts utilise posing problems for mathematics competitions for fulfilment of their internal needs: an intellectual need for enriching their mathematical knowledge base and a socio-psychological need for belonging, recognition and appreciation. Educational implications of the findings for students are discussed and future research directions are presented.