Factors predictive of mathematics achievement in kindergarten,first and third grades: An opportunity–propensity analysis

A secondary analysis of the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study – Kindergarten Sample (N = 17,401) was conducted to determine the factors that are most strongly associated with math achievement during kindergarten, first grade, and third grade. Factors from the following three categories were considered: antecedent factors (e.g., family socio-economic status), opportunity factors (e.g., frequency of being exposed to mathematical content), and propensity factors (e.g., pre-existing mathematics skills). Structural equation modeling showed that math achievement was strongly predicted by a combination of specific propensity, opportunity, and antecedent factors. However, propensity factors were the most important determinants of achievement. The amount of variance accounted for by gender and ethnicity was substantially reduced when other factors in the antecedent, opportunity, and propensity categories were controlled. The implications of the findings for intervention are discussed.     

Students’ age and noncognitive traits predict writing self-efficacy and motivation

The present study explored the relations of students’ age and noncognitive traits (grit, growth mindset, and college self-efficacy) on writing self-efficacy and writing motivation. Participants (N = 457) wrote a short reflection in response to a quote, after which they evaluated similar responses, purportedly written by their peers, that were either exemplary or poor. Participants who read the exemplary essays were less likely to believe they could write as well as their peers (writing self-efficacy) and less likely to write a second essay (writing motivation), demonstrating a discouragement by peer excellence effect. Grit, growth mindset, and college self-efficacy were all positive correlates of writing self-efficacy. Writing self-efficacy, in turn, predicted the willingness to write another essay. Older students reported higher levels of writing self-efficacy and exhibited greater writing motivation. Older students also reported higher levels of grit, college self-efficacy, and growth mindset. A parallel mediation analysis revealed an indirect effect of college self-efficacy on the relation between age and writing self-efficacy. These results suggest that educators should judiciously model the works of students’ exemplary peers and foster noncognitive traits that improve writing self-efficacy. The results also suggest that older students are more receptive to writing.     

Predicting stereotype endorsement and academic motivation in women in science programs: A longitudinal model

This study proposed and tested a model based on stereotype threat theory. The hypothesis is that women who are exposed to a low percentage of women in a science program are more likely to endorse the gender stereotype that science is a male domain, which will in turn undermine their autonomous academic motivation. A total of 167 women university students enrolled in science programs participated in an 18-month longitudinal study. Results partially support our model. Although the low percentage of females in science programs was related to endorsement of the gender stereotype, there was no effect of prior stereotype endorsement on subsequent autonomous academic motivation.     

高职院校毕业生就业现状及其获得成就现象分析

从江苏省高职院校抽取三所大学(淮安信息职业技术学院、常州信息职业技术学院、南京信息职业技术学院)随机抽取930名高职作为研究对象,以区域、年级、性别、专业四个维度,通过对高职院校毕业生就业现状及其获得成就现象分析发现:(1)高职学生个人取向成就动机明显高于社会取向成就动机;(2)因学校区域不同,高职学生成就动机存在显著差异;(3)因年级不同,高职学生成就动机存在显著差异;(4)因性别、专业不同,高职学生成就动机不存在显著差异。     

Between a growth and a fixed mindset: Examining nuances in 3rd-grade students’ mathematics intelligence mindsets

Children’s growth and fixed intelligence mindsets in mathematics are noted as important sources of mathematics motivation and achievement. Nuanced beliefs about the malleability of mathematics intelligence that lie between fixed and growth mindsets may also be important to consider for children’s mathematics learning, yet little is known about whether children endorse these in-between beliefs and how they fit in the popular growth and fixed mindset framework. In this study, we investigated nuanced mindsets in mathematics, which we term “mixed” intelligence mindsets, alongside fixed and growth mindsets in a sample of 698 third-grade students in the United States. Factor analyses using data from a newly developed mathematics intelligence mindset scale indicated good and similar fit of three multidimensional models. Two of these models included mixed mindset items, one with a combined growth and mixed mindset factor and another with a separated mixed mindset factor. Strong positive correlations were found between the growth and mixed mindset factors. Mathematics achievement had a moderate positive correlation with mixed mindset and a moderate negative correlation with fixed mindset. These correlations were both significantly stronger than the small correlation between mathematics achievement and growth mindset. Our findings suggest mathematics intelligence mindset is multidimensional and the addition of a mixed mindset aspect could improve the adequacy and precision of the conceptualization and measurement of the growth mindset dimension. In practice, mixed mindsets may provide teachers and parents with more flexible messages to present to children when encouraging them to engage in adaptive achievement behaviors in mathematics.     

“But it doesn’t come naturally”: how effort expenditure shapes the benefit of growth mindset on women’s sense of intellectual belonging in computing

Research suggests growth mindset, or the belief that knowledge is acquired through effort, may enhance women’s sense of belonging in male-dominated disciplines, like computing. However, other research indicates women who spend a great deal of time and energy in technical fields experience a low sense of belonging. The current study assessed the benefits of a growth mindset on women’s (and men’s) sense of intellectual belonging in computing, accounting for the amount of time and effort dedicated to academics. We define “intellectual belonging” as the sense that one is believed to be a competent member of the community. Whereas a stronger growth mindset was associated with stronger intellectual belonging for men, a growth mindset only boosted women’s intellectual belonging when they did not work hard on academics. Our findings suggest, paradoxically, women may not benefit from a growth mindset in computing when they exert a lot of effort.     

国外成就动机测量研究的进展与发展趋势

采用文献综述法介绍了目前国外成就动机测量的研究进展及发展趋势,重点介绍了常用的几种动机测量工具：内隐联想测验、Grid技术和成就动机问卷;通过对有关成就动机测量研究的介绍、分析、归纳,更好地揭示成就动机的实质,为进一步深入研究成就动机提供理论依据。指出将来成就动机测量研究的趋势：注重对不同文化下个体成就动机结构的测量,扩大研究范围以及构建更科学、更准确的测量工具。     

Exploring science competition participants’ expectancy-value perceptions and identification: A latent profile analysis

Science competitions are positively linked to students' science career pursuit and admission at top universities. The search for effective gender equity measures has become a priority as girls are less successful during science Olympiad team selection. Based on the expectancy-value model we performed latent profile analysis on a dataset of 445 Chemistry Olympiad participants (51% female, mean age 16.50 years). We characterized motivational profiles, predicted profile membership using the gender-science Implicit Association Test, gender, and socializers’ support, and examined how profile membership influenced performance. We identified four profiles distinguished by career motivation, interest, and domain identification: fearful pessimists, average participants, carefree participants, and worried optimists. The least successful group was associated with stronger gender-science stereotypes, less parental support, and the female gender. We discuss these findings in light of the importance of parental support and the diminishing effect of gender-science stereotypes on feelings of belonging for girls.     

大学生成就动机的性别差异研究

采用问卷调查并结合访谈和文献资料等方法,通过对某市男女大学生成就动机的分析研究,发现大学生在成就动机结构上存在着较为显著的性别差异,具体表现为:大学女生在价值取向成就动机上的得分显著高于大学男生,大学男生在职业取向成就动机和社会取向成就动机上的得分显著高于大学女生。但在成就动机强度水平上大学女生与大学男生之间的水平差异正在逐渐缩小。     

“I learn for a job promotion!”: the role of outcome-focused career goals in motivating distance learners to learn

Outcome-focused career goals are concerned about studying for tangible career benefits. To what extent do these goals motivate distance learners to learn? Using a mixed-method design, Study 1 found that career-focused learners, when compared with noncareer-focused counterparts, had a propensity to endorse outcome-focused career goals, use surface strategies, value their learning, and achieve better course results. Interview findings showed that career-focused learners used a strategic approach to ensure the timely completion of tasks and examination preparation. Study 2 located two groups of career-focused learners (autonomous and controlled) who endorsed outcome-focused career goals, alongside a noncareer-focused group. MANOVA analyses found that autonomous and noncareer-focused learners had engaged learning patterns. Although controlled learners were less engaged in learning, they achieved better results. It was concluded that outcome-focused career goals are significant sources of motivation for distance learners, despite being extrinsic to learning.     

试析自我图式对成就动机的影响

每个人都有着丰富的自我图式,它们是过去自我、可能自我以及应该自我。自我图式对成就动机有重要影响,决定成就动机的指向、力量和调节等重要方面。建构合理的自我图式可以激发成就动机,有多种途径可以建构自我图式。     

成就目标理论与大学生的学习动机

动机是影响学生学习的动力系统。成就目标理论从认知的角度来研究动机的内部关系。掌握性成就目标是有助于激发学生关注学习过程、创新学习的主要动因,但研究发现,大学生有随年级高掌握性成就目标呈降低趋势,而且有专业差异。为此,本文提出一些对策。