Search

Math anxiety has significant implications for math achievement and math-related career paths. Previous research on antecedents of math anxiety primarily focused on individual factors, while the role of the contextual effect of school has received limited attention. This study sought to address this gap by examining the effect of school-average achievement on math anxiety while considering the mediating role of math self-concept and the moderating role of perceived control. The sample consisted of 4,978 fifteen-year-old students from the USA (49.3% Female). The results of the multilevel analysis revealed that school-average achievement positively predicted math anxiety, even after controlling for individual student achievement, SES, and gender. The results also showed that math self-concept mediated the relationship between school-average achievement and math anxiety. Furthermore, perceived control moderated the effect of school-average achievement on math anxiety. These findings shed light on the complex dynamics between school context, individual factors, and math anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored the potential chain mediating effects of a growth mindset and math self-concept on the relationship between fathers' educational involvement and math anxiety in Chinese elementary school children. A total of 520 Chinese elementary school children completed the Father Educational Involvement Scale, Growth Mindset Scale, Math Self-Concept Scale, and Math Anxiety Scale. The data were subjected to descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and tests for chain-mediating effects using SPSS 27.0 and the Process Macro program. The results revealed the following: (1) there was a significant correlation between fathers' educational involvement, growth mindset, math self-concept, and math anxiety. (2) Paternal educational involvement can directly affect math anxiety, and it can also affect math anxiety through the mediation of growth mindsets and math self-concept. The chain-mediating effects included three pathways: the mediating role of growth mindset, the mediating role of math self-concept, and the chain-mediating role of growth mindset and math self-concept. These findings enhance our understanding of the relationship between fathers' educational involvement and math anxiety among Chinese elementary school children. They also provided essential practical guidance to alleviate math anxiety. Furthermore, it is important to recognize the significant influence of family education on the growth and development of elementary school children, with a particular emphasis on the positive contributions of fathers in the family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the relations among math anxiety, math self-concept, and math self-efficacy on math achievement in older students and underserved ethnic minorities (i.e., Blacks and Hispanics) in higher education. These two groups have been largely neglected in the math self-construct literature. The results showed that older students reported higher math learning anxiety and lower math self-efficacy. Underserved minorities reported higher levels of both math learning and math evaluation anxiety. These math measures were related to lower math achievement (i.e., math SAT, math GPA, and the number of math classes completed). Using latent profile analysis, three distinct math profiles were identified. The high math anxiety and low self-efficacy profile was associated with older students, compared to students whose profile was average in math anxiety and math self-efficacy, or low in math anxiety and high in math self-efficacy. These findings challenge researchers and educators to devise interventions and employ pedagogical techniques to bolster older students' and underserved ethnic minorities' math self-construct and academic achievement in math. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing evidence suggests that success in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields is not only dependent upon one's actual STEM-relevant abilities but also upon one's STEM-relevant attitudes—in particular, math and spatial attitudes. Here, we examine whether simply mentioning the math or spatial relevance of a task affects children's performance and the moderating role of children's math and spatial attitudes. Further, we examine gender differences in performance given pervasive gender gaps in STEM and early-emerging gender differences in math and spatial attitudes. Participants (221 first- to fourth-grade children from the United States; 113 girls, 108 boys; 52% White, 16% Black, 14% Asian, 9% Hispanic or Latinx, 18% multiple races/ethnicities) were introduced to a novel task framed as tapping into math or spatial abilities (or no framing [control condition]). Children then completed math and spatial anxiety and self-concept measures. Results indicate that children who heard the math task framing were less accurate relative to children in the control condition, and the effect was larger for those with higher math anxiety or lower math self-concept, but it was not different for boys and girls. Children who heard the spatial task framing, however, performed comparably to children in the control condition. Though both math and spatial attitudes revealed identical patterns of gender differences (with higher anxiety and lower self-concept in girls than boys), there were no gender differences in performance. This study highlights the salient role of math attitudes early in development and provides key insights for future work aimed at increasing STEM outcomes. Public Significance Statement: Findings reveal that children perform worse on a novel task when it is described as being related to math—but not spatial—skills, and this effect is strongest for children with more negative math attitudes. Moreover, girls had more negative math and spatial attitudes than did boys, but gender differences were not observed in performance on the task. Findings provide key insights into processes implicated in science, technology, engineering, and math outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerical literacy is the knowledge and skill to use various numbers and basic mathematical symbols to solve life problems. Math self-concept is a student's assessment of their skills, abilities, enjoyment, and interest in mathematics. Both are essential elements that significantly affect the adjustment of one's knowledge and skills development. Children with special needs in inclusive elementary schools had not been facilitated by learning that accommodated literacy and math self-concept. Therefore, it is necessary to differentiate the learning process for students with special needs. The first objective of this study was to determine the level of numerical literacy and math self-concept in inclusive elementary schools. The second objective of this research was to identify the implementation of differentiated learning, and the third was to develop learning designs for children with special needs. Furthermore, this research used the qualitative research method because more in-depth data exploration was needed regarding children with special needs. The instruments used were tests, questionnaires, and interviews. The qualitative data were collected and analyzed through exploration, identification, and description. This research contribution consisted of (1) a Detailed description of achievement of numerical literacy and math self-concept; (2) Implementation of differentiated learning in inclusive primary schools; and (3) Learning design for children with special needs. The main findings of this study is that numerical literacy and math self-concept of children with special needs in inclusive elementary schools could be facilitated by differentiated learning designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gender-math stereotypes are thought to be a threat for women's mathematical performance, however, the mechanism of gender stereotype affecting mathematics achievement is not clear. The current study aimed to explore the different role of attitude towards mathematics and math self-concept in the relationship between gender-math stereotypes and mathematical performance for men and women. A total of 297 Chinese college students participated in our survey. Results showed that math self-concept played a suppressing effect on the relationship between gender-math stereotypes and women's mathematical performance, while attitude had no mediating role in the relationship between gender stereotypes and mathematical performance. However, gender-math stereotypes could not directly predict men's mathematical performance, nor could it predict through math self-concept or attitude towards mathematics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerical literacy refers to the knowledge and ability to use various numbers and basic mathematical symbols to solve problems, while math self-concept means the assessment of students' skills, abilities, enjoyment, and interest in the subject. However, children with special needs and normal students in inclusive Elementary Schools are yet to sufficiently acquire learning that accommodates literacy and maths self-concept. This causes a need for the implementation of a children-friendly learning process. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the factors influencing the numeracy level and math self-concept, and also explore the obstacles in implementing children-friendly learning in order to facilitate students' abilities. A qualitative method was applied because of in-depth data exploration regarding children with special needs, while the utilized instruments include tests, questionnaires, and interviews. Both the data collected and the analysis are qualitative, which are obtained through excavation, identification, and description. Consequently, this paper was able to (a) describe the factors influencing the numeracy level and math self-concept in inclusive elementary schools; (b) explore the barriers to implementing children-friendly learning; and (c) identify the relationship between students' numeracy and math self-concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though one might imagine that traditional gender stereotypes about math have lessened over the years, this assumption remains to be tested. We know little about the extent to which parents' gender stereotypes about math abilities and their correlates have changed over time or the extent to which they replicate across research methods and racial/ethnic groups. To address these issues, we used four longitudinal U.S. datasets collected from 1984 to 2009 (n's = 537–14,470, 49–53% girls, 32–95% White, 1–59% Black, 0–22% Latinx) that included similar survey items. Across the datasets, parents believed that boys were better at math than girls. This was particularly consistent among White parents, where the small effects favoring boys replicated across all four datasets covering three decades. Compared to White parents, Black and Latinx parents were significantly less likely to favor boys. After controlling for parent education, income, and their child's math grade, parents' traditional gender stereotypes were significantly and negatively associated with girls' math self-concept, a small effect that replicated across all four datasets. These findings have implications for teachers and parents, as parents (particularly White parents) were significantly more likely to hold traditional math gender stereotypes, which relates to children's math self-concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Educational technology (EdTech) designers need to ensure population validity as they attempt to meet the individual needs of all students. EdTech researchers often have access to larger and more diverse samples of student data to test replication across broad demographic contexts as compared to either the small-scale experiments or the larger convenience samples often seen in experimental psychology studies of learning. However, the source of typical EdTech data (i.e., online learning systems) and concerns related to student privacy often limit the opportunity to collect demographic variables from individual students—the sample is diverse, but the researcher does not know how that diversity is realized in individual learners. In order to ensure equitable student outcomes, the EdTech community should make greater efforts to develop new methods for addressing this shortcoming. Recent work has sought to address this issue by investigating publicly-available, school-level differences in demographics, which can be useful when individual-level variation may be difficult or impossible to acquire data for. In this study, we use this approach to better understand the role of social factors in students' self-regulated learning and motivation-related behaviors, behaviors whose effectiveness appears to be highly variable between groups. We demonstrate that school-level demographics can be significantly associated with the relationships between students' help-seeking behavior, motivation, and outcomes (math performance and math self-concept). We do so in the context of reasoning mind, an intelligent tutoring system for elementary mathematics. By studying the conditions under which these relationships vary across different demographic contexts, we challenge implicit assumptions of generalizability and provide an evidence-based commentary on future research practices in the EdTech community surrounding how we consider diversity in our field's investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In research on math self-concept (MSC) formation, very few studies have juxtaposed the effects of math grades, math ability, school-average math grades, and school-average math ability. However, these factors are important in enabling Taiwanese senior school students to achieve proper MSC and choose a suitable academic track. Thus, the present study aimed to model the relationship of these factors with MSC. The study also examined the gender effect and school location (rurality) effect. The sample contained 1,196 10th-grade students from 31 senior high schools in Taiwan. A doubly latent multilevel linear model was adopted to account for both sampling and measurement errors. The results suggested that math grades relative to the school-average math grade are key in MSC formation. There were school location and gender effects but no significant interaction between gender and school-level math grade or ability. These effects are discussed, as are the implications in practical settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this replication study, we examined gender differences in students' math competence-related beliefs from 9th to 12th grade and tested gender differences within four racial/ethnic groups. In order to test the potential historical changes in these patterns and to counteract the replication crisis in psychology, this study employed six U.S. datasets collected from the 1980s to 2010s. Using a total sample of 24,290 students (49.5% male students; 11% African-, 9% Asian-; 30% Latinxand 50% European-Americans), we found gender differences in students' math competence-related beliefs favoring boys at all grade levels. By comparing effect sizes across datasets, we found no evidence that these gender differences varied by dataset or by historical time. The results across race/ethnicity with a subsample of 23,070 students indicated meaningful gender differences in students' math competence-related beliefs favoring boys at all grade levels among Asian-, European-, and Latinx-Americans, but not among African-Americans where differences favored girls in 12th grade. Overall, our findings provide no evidence of historical changes concerning gender differences in students' math competencerelated beliefs across datasets. Our findings illustrate the importance of replicating empirical findings across datasets and using an intersectional lens to investigate math motivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines how students’ absenteeism moderates the relationship of math self-concept and motivation to learn math on one side and the achievement in the TIMSS 2015 math test on the other. The stratified random sample consists of 4036 fourth grade pupils from 160 primary schools in Serbia. Separate regression models were made for four levels of frequency of students’ absenteeism. The results show that self-concept makes a positive contribution to the prediction of achievement, and motivation a negative one. Additionally, with the increase of absenteeism the importance of self-concept drops and that of motivation grows. The analysis of variance confirmed that along with the increase of absenteeism, students express lower levels of self-concept, while the level of motivation does not change. The most important conclusion is that regular class attendance contributes to the students’ math self-concept and consequential achievement by developing their experiences of success in math. The usefulness of the motivation scale for predicting math test performance is discussed.

The present research is the first to examine how students’ individual and their classmates’ math-related gender stereotypes, endorsing that math would be a typically male domain, relate to students’ math self-concepts. To this end, data of N = 1,424 secondary school students from Germany were analyzed using multilevel analyses. As expected, strong individual beliefs in the math-related gender stereotype were related to lower math self-concepts for girls, but to higher math self-concepts for boys. Moreover, classmates’ shared beliefs in this stereotype showed a negative relation to girls’ self-concepts, whereas no significant relation between classmates’ shared beliefs and boys’ self-concepts was found. These relations also persisted after controlling for students’ math grades and age. In sum, the results demonstrated that gender stereotypes shared by students’ classmates can have a substantial impact on students’ math self-concepts, beyond their individual gender stereotypes. This finding emphasizes the significance of classmates as important socializing peers in the process of students’ self-concept formation.

This study aimed at investigating the teaching in the light of mathematical proficiency competencies and its impact on achievement and mathematical self-concept of 8th grade students. The sample consisted of (58) grade 8 students from a basic education school in South Batinah Governorate in the Sultanate of Oman. They were divided into two groups: an experimental group which studied using teaching based on competencies of mathematical proficiency and a control group which studied the same unit using the conventional teaching method. The results of the study indicated a statistically significant difference at the level of significance (α=0.05) between the mean score of the experimental group and the mean score of the control group on the Achievement test for the favor of the experimental group students. In addition, there was a statistically significant difference at the level of significance (α=0.05) in the post-application of the measure of Math self-concept in favor of the experimental group. Considering these results, the researchers recommended the use of teaching based on competencies for mathematical proficiency in teaching functions and equations topics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research is the first to examine how students' individual and their classmates' math-related gender stereotypes, endorsing that math would be a typically male domain, relate to students' math self-concepts. To this end, data of N = 1,424 secondary school students from Germany were analyzed using multilevel analyses. As expected, strong individual beliefs in the math-related gender stereotype were related to lower math self-concepts for girls, but to higher math self-concepts for boys. Moreover, classmates' shared beliefs in this stereotype showed a negative relation to girls' self-concepts, whereas no significant relation between classmates' shared beliefs and boys' self-concepts was found. These relations also persisted after controlling for students' math grades and age. In sum, the results demonstrated that gender stereotypes shared by students' classmates can have a substantial impact on students' math self-concepts, beyond their individual gender stereotypes. This finding emphasizes the significance of classmates as important socializing peers in the process of students' self-concept formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectiveWe aimed to explore profiles of subgroups of United States students based on their motivational and affective characteristics and investigate the differences in math-related behaviors, persistence, and math achievement across profiles.MethodWe used 1,464 United States students (male 743 51%, female 721 49%, age 15.82 ± 0.28) from PISA 2012 United States data in our study. First, we employed latent profile analysis and secondary clustering to identify subgroups of students based on motivational (math self-concept, interest in math, perceived control, and instrumental motivation) and affective factors (math anxiety). Next, we used regression to compare differences in math behavior, persistence, and achievement among all identified subgroups.ResultsWe found five distinct groups of students with different patterns of motivation and affection. The subgroup of students with the lowest math anxiety and the highest motivation levels showed the highest math achievement and levels of persistence. The groups with high math interest, math self-concept, and instrumental motivation showed the most frequent math-related behaviors.ConclusionsOur findings reveal the complexity of the students’ motivational and affective profiles. Our findings are significant for teachers and educators to understand the diversity of students and provide theoretical and practical support for individualized and differentiated instruction.

Children’s math self-concepts—their beliefs about themselves and math—are important for teachers, parents, and students, because they are linked to academic motivation, choices, and outcomes. There have been several attempts at improving math achievement based on the training of math skills. Here we took a complementary approach and conducted an intervention study to boost children’s math self-concepts. Our primary objective was to assess the feasibility of whether a novel multicomponent intervention—one that combines explicit and implicit approaches to help children form more positive beliefs linking themselves and math—can be administered in an authentic school setting. The intervention was conducted in Spain, a country in which math achievement is below the average of other OECD countries. We tested third grade students (N = 180; Mage = 8.79 years; 96 girls), using treatment and comparison groups and pre- and posttest assessments. A novelty of this study is that we used both implicit and explicit measures of children’s math self-concepts. For a subsample of students, we also obtained an assessment of year-end math achievement. Math self-concepts in the treatment and comparison groups did not significantly differ at pretest. Students in the treatment group demonstrated a significant increase in math self-concepts from pretest to posttest; students in the comparison group did not. In the treatment group, implicit math self-concepts at posttest were associated with higher year-end math achievement, assessed approximately 3 months after the completion of the intervention. Taken together, the results suggest that math self-concepts are malleable and that social–cognitive interventions can boost children’s beliefs about themselves and math. Based on the favorable results of this feasibility study, it is appropriate to formally test this novel multicomponent approach for improving math self-concepts using randomized controlled trial (RCT) design.

Objective: We aimed to explore profiles of subgroups of United States students based on their motivational and affective characteristics and investigate the differences in math-related behaviors, persistence, and math achievement across profiles. Method: We used 1,464 United States students (male 743 51%, female 721 49%, age 15.82 ± 0.28) from PISA 2012 United States data in our study. First, we employed latent profile analysis and secondary clustering to identify subgroups of students based on motivational (math self-concept, interest in math, perceived control, and instrumental motivation) and affective factors (math anxiety). Next, we used regression to compare differences in math behavior, persistence, and achievement among all identified subgroups. Results: We found five distinct groups of students with different patterns of motivation and affection. The subgroup of students with the lowest math anxiety and the highest motivation levels showed the highest math achievement and levels of persistence. The groups with high math interest, math self-concept, and instrumental motivation showed the most frequent math-related behaviors. Conclusions: Our findings reveal the complexity of the students' motivational and affective profiles. Our findings are significant for teachers and educators to understand the diversity of students and provide theoretical and practical support for individualized and differentiated instruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children's math self-concepts—their beliefs about themselves and math—are important for teachers, parents, and students, because they are linked to academic motivation, choices, and outcomes. There have been several attempts at improving math achievement based on the training of math skills. Here we took a complementary approach and conducted an intervention study to boost children's math self-concepts. Our primary objective was to assess the feasibility of whether a novel multicomponent intervention—one that combines explicit and implicit approaches to help children form more positive beliefs linking themselves and math—can be administered in an authentic school setting. The intervention was conducted in Spain, a country in which math achievement is below the average of other OECD countries. We tested third grade students (N = 180; M age = 8.79 years; 96 girls), using treatment and comparison groups and pre- and posttest assessments. A novelty of this study is that we used both implicit and explicit measures of children's math self-concepts. For a subsample of students, we also obtained an assessment of year-end math achievement. Math self-concepts in the treatment and comparison groups did not significantly differ at pretest. Students in the treatment group demonstrated a significant increase in math self-concepts from pretest to posttest; students in the comparison group did not. In the treatment group, implicit math self-concepts at posttest were associated with higher year-end math achievement, assessed approximately 3 months after the completion of the intervention. Taken together, the results suggest that math self-concepts are malleable and that social–cognitive interventions can boost children's beliefs about themselves and math. Based on the favorable results of this feasibility study, it is appropriate to formally test this novel multicomponent approach for improving math self-concepts using randomized controlled trial (RCT) design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article takes a fresh approach to analyzing the nondigital and digital sources of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) intent among low–socioeconomic status (SES) high school students attending a Title I public high school in agricultural California. Through a hybrid quantitative–qualitative analysis of data, STEM intent is examined vis-à-vis the selfing process. STEM intent is conceptualized as the product of identity work that can be supported by digital engagements of diverse types. STEM identity is built and reinforced by exposure to digital resources at home, aspirations related to computer programming, and digital activities, particularly programming and/or gaming for at least one hour per week. The linkages are demonstrated quantitatively through logistic regression models and qualitatively with excerpts from in-depth interviews with matched STEM intent students. The regression models show that both nondigital factors and digital engagements influence the odds of expressing STEM intent among high school seniors. As the qualitative analysis demonstrates, these determinants are intimately linked to identity work in which STEM intent students imagine themselves as creators in STEM fields. Digital engagements such as programming, gaming, and internet exposure all play a crucial part in the STEM selfing process in which students imagine their future STEM selves by bringing to life the role of STEM creator. In the article's concluding discussion these findings are developed in a new theoretical direction as evidence for the agentic technological self. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the development of math self-concept during the transition to secondary school comparatively among high-ability and average-ability students in a largescale longitudinal sample in Flanders, Belgium (N = 5740 students; 49.5% males). Latent change models revealed that high-ability students, although maintaining higher relative levels of math self-concept, experienced steeper levels of math self-concept decline in the transition to secondary school than their average-ability peers, according to students' reports. Cognitive ability, measured with standardized intelligence tests, predicted steeper math self-concept decline within both ability groups, and in both groups stronger math self-concept decline was associated with (a) higher levels of teacher-reported underachievement in Grade 7 (r 2 = 0.13, p <.001), (b) lower standardized math achievement in Grade 11 (r 2 = 0.49, p <.001), (c) lower student-reported school well-being in Grade 7 (r 2 = 0.13, p <.001) and Grade 11 (r 2 = 0.04, p <.001), and (d) higher risk of grade repetition by the end of secondary school (r 2 = 0.11, p <.001). These findings establish that the level of math self-concept and the degree in decline in math self-concept can have negative implications for educational outcomes, even when math self-concept level remains high relative to peers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Guided by the school climate and social-emotional learning literature, this study explored math self-concept in relation to student-teacher relationships and students' sense of school belonging while accounting for sex differences. Participants included two random subsamples (Ns = 532; 558) of 15-year-old Canadian students who participated in the 2012 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). Results indicated that while student-teacher relationships were positively associated with math self-concept among boys, sense of school belonging was positively associated with math self-concept among girls. Moderated mediation analyses indicated that the indirect association between student-teacher relationships and math self-concept via the sense of school belonging was significant only among girls; the total effects model was only significant among boys. These findings were evidenced in both subsamples. Findings suggest the importance to not only enhance student-teacher relationships and students' sense of school belonging, but also to recognize how intervention efforts might vary depending on students' sex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Psychological factors like math interest and self-concept typically decline between late childhood and early adolescence; both are key to math achievement. The present study examined the reciprocal interplay between math interest and self-concept across the transition into middle school, and whether associations are moderated by success attributions.Methods: A total of 263 (120 boys, 143 girls) Latino students (Mage = 10.5 years at outset) from an agricultural community in California (USA) completed surveys at three time points, from the end of primary school to the first year of middle school. Surveys measured math self-concept and math interest, as well as attributions to success in math. Cross-lagged panel models examined possible bidirectional associations between math self-concept and math interest, and whether attributions of success moderated these association.Results: Lower initial levels of math self-concept anticipated greater declines in math interest, an association that was buffered by attributions of math success. The smallest declines in math interest occurred among adolescents who had both the highest math self-concept and were most inclined to attribute success in math to internal factors like studying. These associations remained when potential confounding variables (e.g., school grades, conduct problems) were included.Conclusion: The results replicate, in an understudied sample of Latino/a youth, the oft-reported link from low math self-concept to declining interest in math. Unique to this study is evidence of the protection afforded by belief in the efficacy of studying. The findings offer important guidance for teachers and parents seeking to mobilize resources for underperforming students. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study examined the longitudinal associations between children's perceptions of parental involvement in math homework (control and support) and their math performance and motivation (task-persistent homework behavior and math self-concept). Children (n = 512) reported their perceptions concerning parental involvement in sixth-grade math homework. In grades 3 and 6, children completed math tests, evaluated own math self-concept, and their mothers (n = 420) evaluated task persistence during homework. The results showed that low self-concept in math predicted increased parental control, which in turn related to low math performance, task persistence, and math self-concept. Second, perceived parental support was related to increased task persistence during homework. Finally, parental control was especially detrimental for boys' task persistence and math self-concept. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sex differences in mathematics achievement have been a controversial topic in educational psychology for a long time. This study sheds light on the developmental aspects of sex differences in math achievement and domain-specific motivational variables such as self-concept and interest. Using a Reciprocal Effects Model (REM), we analyzed 2,342 German fifth to seventh grade students who participated in a large-scale longitudinal study. Math self-concept was validated as a consistent predictor of subsequent achievement and interest for both sexes, supporting the self-enhancement part of the REM using test-scores and teacher-assigned grades. However, math achievement affects subsequent self-concept inconsistently (i.e., the skill development part). Although the bivariate relationships between the constructs were homogeneous across sex and over time, there were large sex differences in the motivational constructs, but not in the achievement measure regardless of achievement measures. The present findings underline the importance of considering both the mean and the covariance structure when describing sex differences in academic achievement. In addition, they also stress the impact of motivational constructs on educational achievement, which also have implications for sex-specific intervention programs in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Students whose math self-concept is threatened in stressful classroom situations activate self-defense mechanisms to forget those experiences, which jeopardize future learning and knowledge retention. External cues to forget might be critical to activate these self-defense mechanisms. We tested this idea by employing a directed-forgetting paradigm using math-related materials. Participants were presented with math problems to enhance anxiety, followed by a list of math-related words with instructions to either remember or forget those words. All participants were then asked to remember a second math list. We predicted that people most vulnerable to experiencing threat—those with high math anxiety and high math self-concept—would have the internal motivation to most effectively carry out the forgetting instructions. Participants with high math anxiety and high math self-concept had a greater forgetting score than other participants. These findings are consistent with a motivated forgetting account and suggest that educational materials are susceptible to forgetting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our newly proposed integrated academic self-concept model integrates 3 major theories of academic self-concept formation and developmental perspectives into a unified conceptual and methodological framework. Relations among math self-concept (MSC), school grades, test scores, and school-level contextual effects over 6 years, from the end of primary school through the first 5 years of secondary school (a representative sample of 3,370 German students, 42 secondary schools, 50% male, M age at grade 5 = 11.75) support the (1) intemal/extemal frame of reference model: Math school grades had positive effects on MSC, but the effects of German grades were negative; (2) reciprocal effects (longitudinal panel) model: MSC was predictive of and predicted by math test scores and school grades; (3) big-fish-little-pond effect: The effects on MSC were negative for school-average achievement based on 4 indicators (primary school grades in math and German, school-track prior to the start of secondary school, math test scores in the first year of secondary school). Results for all 3 theoretical models were consistent across the 5 secondary school years: This supports the prediction of developmental equilibrium. This integration highlights the robustness of support over the potentially volatile early to middle adolescent period; the interconnectedness and complementarity of 3 ASC models; their counterbalancing strengths and weaknesses; and new theoretical, developmental, and substantive implications at their intersections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Numerous studies, most of them involving adolescents and adults, have evidenced a moderate negative relationship between math anxiety and math performance. There are, however, a limited number of studies that have addressed the mechanisms underlying this relation. Aims This study aimed to investigate the role of two possible mediational mechanisms between math anxiety and math performance. Specifically, we sought to test the simultaneous mediating role of working memory and math self-concept. Sample A total of 167 children aged 8-12 years participated in this study. Methods Children completed a set of questionnaires used to assess math and trait anxiety, math self-concept as well as measures of math fluency and math problem-solving. Teachers were asked to rate each student's math achievement. As measures of working memory, two backward span tasks were administered to the children. Results A series of multiple mediation analyses were conducted. Results indicated that both mediators (working memory and math self-concept) contributed to explaining the relationship between math anxiety and math achievement. Conclusions Results suggest that working memory and self-concept could be worth considering when designing interventions aimed at helping students with math anxiety. Longitudinal designs could also be used to better understand the mediational mechanisms that may explain the relationship between math anxiety and math performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Math achievement, math self-concept, and vocational interests are critical predictors of STEM careers and are closely linked to high school coursework. Young women are less likely to choose advanced math courses in high school, and encouraging young women to enroll in advanced math courses may therefore bring more women into STEM careers. We looked at a German statewide educational reform that required all students to take advanced math courses and examined differential effects of the reform on young men and women's math achievement, math self-concept, vocational interests, and field of study at university. We compared data from 4,730 students before the reform and 4,715 students after the reform. We specified multiple regression models and tested main effects of gender and cohort as well as the effect of the Cohort X Gender interaction on all outcomes. All outcomes showed clear gender differences favoring young men before the reform. However, the reform was associated with different effects for young men and women: Whereas gender differences in math achievement were smaller after the reform, differences between young men and women in math self-concept and realistic and investigative vocational interests were larger after the reform than before. Gender differences in the field of study at university did not differ between before and after the reform. Results suggest that reducing course choice options in high school does not automatically increase gender equality in STEM fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines reciprocal effects between self-concept and achievement by considering a long time span covering grades 5 through 9. Extending previous research on the reciprocal effects model (REM), this study tests (1) the assumption of developmental equilibrium as time-invariant cross-lagged paths from self-concept to achievement and from achievement to self-concept, (2) the generalizability of reciprocal relations when using school grades and standardized achievement test scores as achievement indicators and (3) the invariance of findings across secondary school achievement tracks. Math self-concept, school grades in math and math achievement test scores were measured once each school year with a representative sample of 3,425 German students. Student's gender, IQ and socioeconomic status (SES) were controlled in all analyses. The findings supported the assumption of developmental equilibrium for reciprocal effects between self-concept and achievement across time. The pattern of results was found to be invariant across students attending different achievement tracks and could be replicated when using school grades and achievement test scores in separate and in combined models. The findings of this study thus underscore the generalizability and robustness of the REM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consistently with a priori predictions, school retention (repeating a year in school) had largely positive effects for a diverse range of 10 outcomes (e.g., math self-concept, self-efficacy, anxiety, relations with teachers, parents and peers, school grades, and standardized achievement test scores). The design, based on a large, representative sample of German students (N = 1,325, M age = 11.75 years at Year 5) measured each year during the first 5 years of secondary school, was particularly strong. It featured 4 independent retention groups (different groups of students, each repeating 1 of the 4 first years of secondary school; total N = 103), with multiple posttest waves to evaluate short- and long-term effects, controlling for covariates (gender, age, socioeconomic status, primary school grades, IQ) and 1 or more sets of 10 outcomes collected prior to retention. Tests of developmental invariance demonstrated that the effects of retention (controlling for covariates and preretention outcomes) were highly consistent across this potentially volatile early to middle adolescent period; largely positive effects in the first year following retention were maintained in subsequent school years following retention. Particularly considering that these results are contrary to at least some of the accepted wisdom about school retention, the findings have important implications for educational researchers, policymakers, and parents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Psychology, Society & Education is the property of Psychology, Society & Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

It is often argued that enhancement of self-beliefs should be one of the key goals of education. However, very little is known about the relation between self-beliefs and performance when students move from primary to secondary school in highly differentiated educational systems with early tracking. This large-scale longitudinal cohort study examines the extent to which academic self-efficacy (i.e., how confident students are that they will be able to master their schoolwork) and math self-concept (i.e., students’ perceived math competence) mediate the relation between math performance at the end of primary school (Grade 6) and the end of lower secondary school (Grade 9) in such a system. The study involved 843 typically-developing students in the Netherlands. Self-efficacy and math self-concept were measured with self-report questionnaires. Math performance was measured with nationally validated tests. The relation between math performance in Grade 6 and in Grade 9 was uniquely mediated by both self-efficacy in Grade 6 and math self-concept in Grade 9, but in opposing directions. Math self-concept was the most influential mediator, explaining nearly a quarter of the total effect of Grade 6 math performance on Grade 9 math performance. Unexpectedly, high self-efficacy in Grade 6 was negatively related to Grade 9 math performance, particularly for girls and high-track students. These findings suggest that self-efficacy may not necessarily be a protective factor in highly differentiated early tracking educational systems and may need to be actively managed when students move to secondary school.

This three-wave, longitudinal study explored the math self-concept of German preschool children ( N = 420) with respect to its differentiation into competence and affect components, cross-sectional and longitudinal relations to early math achievement, and invariance across gender. Findings demonstrated that preschool children's math self-concept can be separated into competence and affect components, with the competence component displaying higher relations to early math achievement than the affect component. The competence component but not the affect component was found to be related to prior math achievement, providing evidence of the skill-development model of self-concept–achievement relations in preschool years. Boys and girls demonstrated similar self-concept–achievement relations and mean levels in the competence and affect components of math self-concept. Given so far little research on self-concept in preschool children, this study offers important insights and expands current knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Croatian Journal of Education / Hrvatski Časopis za Odgoj i Obrazovanje is the property of Uciteljski Fakultet u Zagrebu and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The purpose of the current study was to examine four family context variables (socioeconomic status, mother’s level of education, father’s level of education, and perceived family social support) as predictors of math self-concept among undergraduate STEM majors to better understand the gender differential in math self-concept. Participants included 499 undergraduates (75% of whom were female) at a large research university in the southwestern United States. Results indicated that males had higher math self-concepts than females and that social support predicted math self-concept, particularly for males.

The aims of this study were to examine changes in students’ English and math self-concepts and to investigate the effects of gender and school ability level on these changes. Self-concept in English and math were measured thrice across three years among a sample of 2618 secondary school students from Hong Kong. Gender and school ability level were included as time-invariant predictors. Results indicated that students’ English self-concept slightly increased across time, while math self-concept marginally declined. Gender influenced both the initial levels and rates of change for English and math self-concepts, while school ability level predicted initial levels of self-concept. Implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Background The multidimensionality of the academic self-concept in terms of domain specificity has been well established in previous studies, whereas its multidimensionality in terms of motivational functions (the so-called affect-competence separation) needs further examination. Aim This study aims at exploring differential effects of enjoyment and competence beliefs on two external validity criteria in the field of mathematics. Sample Data analysed in this study were part of a large-scale longitudinal research project. Following a five-wave design, math enjoyment, math competence beliefs, math achievement, and perceived math effort expenditure measures were repeatedly collected from a cohort of 4,724 pupils in Grades 3-7. Method Confirmatory factor analysis ( CFA) was used to test the internal factor structure of the math self-concept. Additionally, a series of nested models was tested using structural equation modelling to examine longitudinal reciprocal interrelations between math competence beliefs and math enjoyment on the one hand and math achievement and perceived math effort expenditure on the other. Results Our results showed that CFA models with separate factors for math enjoyment and math competence beliefs fit the data substantially better than models without it. Furthermore, differential relationships between both constructs and the two educational outcomes were observed. Math competence beliefs had positive effects on math achievement and negative effects on perceived math effort expenditure. Math enjoyment had (mild) positive effects on subsequent perceived effort expenditure and math competence beliefs. Conclusion This study provides further support for the affect-competence separation. Theoretical issues regarding adequate conceptualization and practical consequences for practitioners are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined whether verbal and math self-concepts could help explain the academic performance of first generation college students. Participants were 167 ethnically diverse students at an inner city, commuter, open-enrollment, four-year university in the southwestern United States. Results indicated that students with lower verbal and math self-concepts had lower grade point averages. Furthermore, there were ethnic differences among first generation college students in GPA with Whites performing better than African Americans and Latinos. In addition, Asians and Latinos had higher math self-concept than African Americans. The potential for academic self-concept as an important factor in increasing the academic performance of first generation students is discussed.

The purpose of the current study was to examine four family context variables (socioeconomic status, mother's level of education, father's level of education, and perceived family social support) as predictors of math self-concept among undergraduate STEM majors to better understand the gender differential in math self-concept. Participants included 499 undergraduates (75% of whom were female) at a large research university in the southwestern United States. Results indicated that males had higher math self-concepts than females and that social support predicted math self-concept, particularly for males. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined whether verbal and math self-concepts could help explain the academic performance of first generation college students. Participants were 167 ethnically diverse students at an inner city, commuter, open-enrollment, four-year university in the southwestern United States. Results indicated that students with lower verbal and math self-concepts had lower grade point averages. Furthermore, there were ethnic differences among first generation college students in grade point average with Whites performing better than African Americans and Latinos. In addition, Asians and Latinos had higher math self-concept than African Americans. The potential for academic self-concept as an important factor in increasing the academic performance of first generation students is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]