Mind the Gap: Investigating Misaligned Mathematics Study Intentions and Perceived Capabilities

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Mind the Gap: Investigating Misaligned Mathematics Study Intentions and Perceived Capabilities
Language: English
Authors: Erin Mackenzie, Kathryn Holmes, Nathan Berger, Matt Thompson, Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (MERGA)
Source: Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia. 2025.
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: 2025
Document Type: Speeches/Meeting Papers
Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Elementary Education
Grade 7
Junior High Schools
Middle Schools
Grade 8
Grade 9
High Schools
Descriptors: Secondary School Students, Student Attitudes, Mathematics Education, Intention, Student Characteristics, Foreign Countries, Value Judgment, Self Efficacy, Difficulty Level, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, Anxiety
Geographic Terms: Australia
Abstract: Strengthening lower secondary students' attitudes toward mathematics is key to addressing declining enrolments in higher-level courses. This mixed-methods study examined the alignment between students' perceived mathematics capability and study intentions, as well as demographic and attitudinal differences. Results suggest that students with aligned intentions had more adaptive attitudes than those with an intentions-capability gap. Many who intended to study below their perceived capability cited low utility value, suggesting that enhancing mathematics' perceived utility could increase higher-level enrolments.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: ED676451
Database: ERIC
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