The relationship between extrinsic motivation and mathematics achievement in South Africa.
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| Title: | The relationship between extrinsic motivation and mathematics achievement in South Africa. |
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| Authors: | Gamieldien, Mohamed Faarez1, Casale, Daniela1 daniela.casale@wits.ac.za |
| Source: | South African Journal of Education. May2026, Vol. 46 Issue 2, p1-17. 17p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Extrinsic motivation, *Mathematical ability testing, *Universities & colleges, *Ninth grade (Education), Multivariate analysis, South Africans |
| Geographic Terms: | South Africa |
| Company/Entity: | Trends in International Mathematics & Science Study |
| Abstract: | Despite growing interest in the role of non-cognitive skills in academic achievement in the international literature, limited studies on this topic for South Africa exist. For this article, we used data on Grade 9 learners from the 2019 South African Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) to investigate the relationship between extrinsic motivation and mathematics achievement. We used multivariate regression analysis where we controlled for a range of learner, home, teacher and school characteristics, and we tested the robustness of our results to using teacher and school fixed effects models. We found a positive association between extrinsic motivation and mathematics scores, and although it was not as large as the association between intrinsic motivation and mathematics scores, it remained strong and statistically significant in all our models. We also found that the strength of the relationship varied across school types and was stronger in poorly-resourced and remote rural schools, suggesting that extrinsic motivation could compensate to some degree for the disadvantage that these learners experience. This is an important finding as extrinsic motivation is potentially amenable to external influences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of South African Journal of Education is the property of South African Journal of Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. 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.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 194594137 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: The relationship between extrinsic motivation and mathematics achievement in South Africa. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gamieldien%2C+Mohamed+Faarez%22">Gamieldien, Mohamed Faarez</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Casale%2C+Daniela%22">Casale, Daniela</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> daniela.casale@wits.ac.za</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22South+African+Journal+of+Education%22">South African Journal of Education</searchLink>. May2026, Vol. 46 Issue 2, p1-17. 17p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Extrinsic+motivation%22">Extrinsic motivation</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mathematical+ability+testing%22">Mathematical ability testing</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Universities+%26+colleges%22">Universities & colleges</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ninth+grade+%28Education%29%22">Ninth grade (Education)</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Multivariate+analysis%22">Multivariate analysis</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22South+Africans%22">South Africans</searchLink> – Name: SubjectGeographic Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22South+Africa%22">South Africa</searchLink> – Name: SubjectCompany Label: Company/Entity Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Trends+in+International+Mathematics+%26+Science+Study%22">Trends in International Mathematics & Science Study</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Despite growing interest in the role of non-cognitive skills in academic achievement in the international literature, limited studies on this topic for South Africa exist. For this article, we used data on Grade 9 learners from the 2019 South African Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) to investigate the relationship between extrinsic motivation and mathematics achievement. We used multivariate regression analysis where we controlled for a range of learner, home, teacher and school characteristics, and we tested the robustness of our results to using teacher and school fixed effects models. We found a positive association between extrinsic motivation and mathematics scores, and although it was not as large as the association between intrinsic motivation and mathematics scores, it remained strong and statistically significant in all our models. We also found that the strength of the relationship varied across school types and was stronger in poorly-resourced and remote rural schools, suggesting that extrinsic motivation could compensate to some degree for the disadvantage that these learners experience. This is an important finding as extrinsic motivation is potentially amenable to external influences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of South African Journal of Education is the property of South African Journal of Education and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. 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.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
| PLink | https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ehh&AN=194594137 |
| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.15700/saje.v46n2a2628 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 17 StartPage: 1 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Extrinsic motivation Type: general – SubjectFull: Mathematical ability testing Type: general – SubjectFull: Universities & colleges Type: general – SubjectFull: Ninth grade (Education) Type: general – SubjectFull: Multivariate analysis Type: general – SubjectFull: South Africans Type: general – SubjectFull: South Africa Type: general – SubjectFull: Trends in International Mathematics & Science Study Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: The relationship between extrinsic motivation and mathematics achievement in South Africa. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Gamieldien, Mohamed Faarez – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Casale, Daniela IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 05 Text: May2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 02560100 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 46 – Type: issue Value: 2 Titles: – TitleFull: South African Journal of Education Type: main |
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