Positive Attitudes towards Mathematics and Science Are Mutually Beneficial for Student Achievement: A Latent Profile Analysis of TIMSS 2015

Australia has seen declining numbers of students choosing mathematics and science subjects in the senior secondary years, running counter to economic projections of an accelerating need for science and mathematics skills. Many students become less engaged with these subjects in the junior secondary years but attitudes such as self-concept, utility value, and intrinsic value are important for subject selection decisions. We used latent profile analysis to examine the relationship between attitudes towards both subjects using data from 10,051 Australian Grade 8 students sampled by TIMSS 2015 and revealed six discrete groupings. While most students were at least attitudinally receptive to both subjects, there were many students who either resisted both or expressed a strong preference for one over another. Positive attitudes towards both subjects were mutually beneficial--better attitudes towards both were associated with higher achievement in each--but boys tended to be more positive towards both subjects and so benefitted from this relationship more than girls. Implications for educational research and teachers' practices are discussed.