Innovative Classroom Strategy: Impact on Students’ Mathematics Motivation, Anxiety and Achievement in Pre-University Studies

One aspect that influences mathematics achievement is students' mathematics motivation, which is closely related to their mathematics anxiety. This study aims to incorporate a classroom intervention strategy using a brain-based teaching approach (BBTA) with technological tools to improve students' mathematics performance in pre-university studies. BBTA was used in the classroom to increase students’ mathematics interest and minimise their mathematics anxiety to increase mathematics performance. Two hundred and six (206) pre-university students were exposed to both BBTA and conventional instructions during their Statistic lessons. Questionnaire comprises of motivation and anxiety-related questions as well as pre and post mathematics tests were administered to these students. Based on the findings, students with low anxiety appeared to have more self-confidence when studying mathematics, which simultaneously improved their examination results. These two elements are critical in students' learning of mathematics because students who have low levels of anxiety and high levels of motivation in learning mathematics attain high achievement in mathematics.

Effects of Category Labeling With Emojis on Likert-Type Scales on the Psychometric Properties of Measurements

Today, emoji have become a popular option for anchoring the categories of Likert-type scales applied to not only adults but also children. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of category labeling with emoji by comparing the psychometric properties of the emoji- and verbal-anchored versions of the mathematics motivation scale applied to students aged 8–11 years (grades 3, 4, and 5). The participants of the study comprised 658 students. According to the research results, students used the upper categories of the scale more intensively in the emoji-anchored version than in the verbal-anchored one. Parallel to this, the means calculated for the emoji-anchored version were found to be significantly higher. Moreover, the results of the research revealed that the verbal-anchored scale form yielded more reliable and valid measures than the emoji-anchored version.

Validation of the Mathematics Motivation Questionnaire (MMQ) for secondary school students

Background Motivation is critical for supporting persistence and achievement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. In this study, we focus on the assessment of mathematics motivation among secondary school students. We provide validity and reliability evidence for the Mathematics Motivation Questionnaire (MMQ)—adapted from the Science Motivation Questionnaire designed for college students—using data from 2551 secondary students from seven states across the United States. Results Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses confirmed five latent factors of the MMQ indicated by 19 items: intrinsic value, self-regulation, self-efficacy, utility value, and test anxiety. The nonlinear SEM reliability coefficients of the five constructs ranged from 0.76 to 0.91. To assess criterion validity, analyses using a subset of the data that included students’ mathematics standardized scores (n = 536) indicated that intrinsic value, self-regulation, and self-efficacy were significantly positively correlated with mathematics achievement, whereas test anxiety was significantly negatively correlated with mathematics achievement. Conclusions The MMQ provides a reliable, valid, and feasible measure of the specific factors underlying mathematics motivation among secondary students.

Validity and Reliability of the Portuguese Version of Mathematics Academic Motivation Scale (MATAMS) among Third Cycle of Basic School Students

The importance of motivation in mathematics education is expressed in the large number of studies related to the teaching and learning process. Improving students’ motivation in the mathematics classroom is a fundamental issue for teachers, investigators, and policymakers, due to its relevance in the students’ behavior and academic success. The Academic Motivation Scale is a highly applied tool to evaluate students’ motivation based on Self-Determination Theory. In Portugal, there is a lack in the analysis of the different domains of mathematics motivation defined by Self-Determination Theory, for students attending basic education. Additionally, there is no comprehensive instrument that allows that evaluation. Adapting the Academic Motivation Scale, the purpose of this study is to assess the mathematics motivation of Portuguese students who attend the third cycle of basic education. In addition, it is intended to analyze the properties of this new instrument using a sample of 349 Portuguese students aged between 12 and 17. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis indicated a very good validity and reliability of this measuring instrument of mathematics students’ motivation. The results of this work allow the development of educational policies that promote strategies to increase students’ motivation in mathematics.

The Effectiveness of Using the Group Investigation Model in Improving Mathematics Motivation in SMK Dwi Tunggal 1 Tanjung Morawa

This research aims to find out whether by applying a group investigation leraning model can increase student’s motivation to learn mathematic grade X in SMK Dwi Tunggal 1 Tanjung Morawa. The research instruments used were observation and questioner. The observations used are statements of the learning process. Observation consists of observation sheets on the effectiveness of student learning, and observation of student learning motivation.The population this study is Students Class off X SMK Dwi Tunggal 1 Tanjung Morawa, while the sample in this study was a class off X-AP SMK Dwi Tunggal 1 Tanjung Morawa. From the results of the study can be seen an in crease student motivation to learn mathimatics by using a learning model of investigation b 75% at the first meeting and is categorized as effective, while at the second meeting it reaches 80% and is categorized as effective. Thereofere the use of the group investigation learning model is effective in creasing the motivation to learn mathematic in students of SMK Dwi Tunggal 1 Tanjung Morawa.

Impact of Lesson Study on Motivation in Mathematics and Mathematics Achievement of Malaysian Foundation Programme Students

Low motivations in mathematics prevent students from learning it meaningfully and experience the beauties of mathematics through problem solving in Malaysia and many other countries. This quasi- experimental study was conducted among foundation level students so as to determine the impact of implementation of Lesson Study on students’ motivation in mathematics and mathematics achievement as well as gender in a public university in Selangor, Malaysia. Seven mathematics lecturers, a physic lecturer and researcher formed a Lesson Study group. This group planned and designed five Research Lessons about the functions focusing on problem solving. A lecturer was chosen randomly to teach these lessons to his classes as experimental and control groups. In this study, mathematics motivation test (5-point Likert-type scale ranging from 1 (Not at all true) to 5 (Very true)) and lecturers developed tests were used to investigate the impact of Lesson Study on mathematics motivation and achievement. The data were analyzed by using independent t-test, ANOVA test, MANOVA test and non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test. The results of this study showed that students in experimental group obtained better results in both motivation and achievement tests. Also, there is no statistically significant interaction between the effects of educational method and gender on mathematics achievement scores. Furthermore, the results showed that the level of motivation is different among groups by gender but there were no significant mean differences among groups in any of subscales.

Examining the Role of Spatial Skills and Mathematics Motivation on Middle School Mathematics Achievement

Background: Spatial skills and mathematical ability have been repeatedly identified as criticalfor achievement in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Previous studies have identified correlations between spatial skills and mathematical achievement; however, questions remain regarding improvements in non-spatial areas associated with STEM achievement. The current study examined whether competency in spatial skills could be related to individuals’ motivation for mathematics. Measures of spatial skills and mathematics motivation were completed by 1,056 seventh grade students.Results: Using hierarchical linear modeling, spatial skills and math motivation were examined relative to students’ performance on a state standardized mathematics subtest. Results indicate that spatial skills and motivation interact to significantly predict students’ mathematics performance.Conclusions: These results suggest that spatial skills in combination with motivation play a significant role in middle school students’ mathematics achievement.

Mathematics Motivation in Students With Low Cognitive Ability: A Longitudinal Study of Motivation and Relations With Effort, Self-Regulation, and Grades

Expectancy-value theory (EVT) is a popular framework to understand and improve students' motivation. Unfortunately, limited research has verified whether EVT predictions generalize to students with low levels of cognitive ability. This study relies on Grade 5 and 8 data from 177 students with low levels of cognitive ability and a matched sample of 177 students with average to high cognitive ability from the German “Project for the Analysis of Learning and Achievement in Mathematics.” Results showed that students with low levels of cognitive ability were able to differentiate EVT components. Both groups demonstrated a similar downward developmental trend in motivation from early to middle adolescence, and similar relations between EVT components and levels of efforts, self-regulation, and mathematics class grades.