Understanding Secondary School Students' Motivations for Mathematics Subject Choice: First Steps in Construct Validation and Correlational Analysis

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Understanding Secondary School Students' Motivations for Mathematics Subject Choice: First Steps in Construct Validation and Correlational Analysis
Language: English
Authors: Bell, Jacky Tianmi Pei, Way, Jennifer, Ginns, Paul, Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (MERGA)
Source: Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia. 2021Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (MERGA) (43rd, Singapore, 2021).
Availability: Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia. GPO Box 2747, Adelaide SA 5001, Australia. Tel: +61-8-8363-0288; Fax: +61-8-8362-9288; e-mail: sales@merga.net.au; Web site: http://www.merga.net.au/
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 8
Publication Date: 2021
Document Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers
Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Grade 10
High Schools
Grade 11
Descriptors: Student Attitudes, Expectation, Success, Mathematics Instruction, Secondary School Mathematics, Course Selection (Students), Foreign Countries, Grade 10, High School Students, Grade 11, Value Judgment, Barriers, Correlation
Geographic Terms: Australia
Abstract: With the increased workplace demand for STEM specialists, and the trend in capable students opting out of higher levels of secondary mathematics, the psychological influences on mathematics subject choice are important issues to explore. Expectancy-value theory is used to examine the factors influencing such achievement choices. In the present study, as part of a larger programme of research on mathematics subject choice, we sought to validate self-report measures of students' expectancies for success, values, and perceived costs associated with participation in mathematics. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the hypothesised factor structure, with the measures displaying acceptable levels of internal consistency.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2021
Accession Number: ED616242
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:With the increased workplace demand for STEM specialists, and the trend in capable students opting out of higher levels of secondary mathematics, the psychological influences on mathematics subject choice are important issues to explore. Expectancy-value theory is used to examine the factors influencing such achievement choices. In the present study, as part of a larger programme of research on mathematics subject choice, we sought to validate self-report measures of students' expectancies for success, values, and perceived costs associated with participation in mathematics. Confirmatory factor analysis supported the hypothesised factor structure, with the measures displaying acceptable levels of internal consistency.