Self-regulation of mathematics homework behavior: An empirical investigation

The authors examined self-regulation of mathematics homework behavior (i.e., mathematics homework management). The participants consisted of 796 eighth-grade students (46 classes) in China. Multilevel results showed that mathematics homework management was positively associated with value belief at the class and individual level. At the individual level, students' management in mathematics homework was positively related to affective attitude, expectancy belief, learning-oriented reasons, homework interest, parent education, teacher feedback, adult-oriented reasons, and value belief. Meanwhile, students' management in mathematics homework was negatively related to time spent on television. Our findings were discussed in the context of related theoretical frameworks (e.g., self-regulation and expectancy value) as well as previous findings pertaining to homework.     

An investigation of extensive reading with remedial students in a Philippines secondary school

This chapter reports a 6-month study that used a matched-pairs pre-test, post-test control group design to evaluate the effectiveness of extensive reading with remedial reading students in a Philippines secondary school (n=60). Ninety percent of students at the school come from low-income homes where reading materials tend to be scarce. The dependent variable, reading proficiency, was assessed using the Informal Reading Inventory and the Gray Standardized Oral Reading Test. Each day, both groups received the same 40 min of English instruction, plus a remedial class. In their remedial class, the control group studied via a traditional approach, emphasizing intensive reading and phonics. For the extensive reading group, the remedial reading class involved reading self-selected materials and doing a variety of post-reading activities. Results suggest that extensive reading led to greater gains than traditional reading instruction. Details on how extensive reading was implemented and a rationale for extensive reading are provided.     

Effects of interspersing rates on students performance on and preferences for mathematics assignments: Testing the discrete task completion hypothesis

The current study investigated the discreet task completion hypothesis presented by C. H. Skinner (2002) by investigating how the rate of interspersing affects performance on and preferences for academic assignments. Specifically, 70 sixth‐, seventh‐, and eighth‐grade students were presented with four assignment pairs of multiplication problems. Each pair consisted of a control assignment (i.e., no interspersing) and an experimental assignment (i.e., interspersing) that interspersed at one of four rates (i.e., no interspersing, every other problem, every third problem, or every fifth problem). After working on each assignment pair, assignment acceptability was measured. Results indicated that although students completed the same number of target problems with the same level of accuracy within assignment pairs, total problem completion rates were affected by the rate of interspersing. In addition, students' acceptability of the assignments was strongly related to the discrepancy in total problems completed across assignment types within assignment pairs. Discussion focuses on predicting students' preferences for academic assignments, implications for practitioners, and directions for future research. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

An examination of the homework practices of teachers of students with learning disabilities

This study examined the homework practices of 88 teachers of students with learning disabilities. While the findings indicated that the respondents were using several quality homework practices, some problems were noted. Suggestions for improving the homework procedures of teachers of students with learning disabilities are presented.     

An investigation of the relationship between metacognition and mathematics achievement

The aim of this study is to determine fifth-grade students’ metacognitive knowledge and skills and its relationship with mathematics achievements. A total of 242 primary school students from six different schools were participated in the study. Turkish version of Metacognitive Knowledge and Skills Assessment (MSA-TR) was used to measure metacognitive knowledge and skills. The results demonstrated a significant and positive relationship (r = .648, p < .01) between metacognition and mathematics achievement. Furthermore, research results showed that 42% of total variance of mathematics achievement could be explained with metacognitive knowledge and skills.     

Self-schematic students in mathematics and their contrasting coping responses to mathematical challenges: a cluster analytic investigation

Educational Studies in Mathematics - Mathematics self-schemas are students’ cognitive generalisations of their selves in learning mathematics (Ng in Educational Psychology, 34(6),...     

An investigation of the validity and reliability of the adapted mathematics anxiety rating scale-short version (MARS-SV) among Turkish students

This study adapted the Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale-Short Version (MARS-SV) into Turkish and investigated the validity and reliability of the adapted instrument. Twenty-five bilingual experts agreed on the language validity, and 49 Turkish language experts agreed on the conformity and understandability of the scale’s items. Thirty-two subject matter experts’ responses provided evidence for content validity. Finally, 475 college students (51.58% men) responded to the adapted scale. Based on the existing literature, several models were specified and estimated. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that only five-factor model provided fit to the data (all fit indices exceeded 0.90). Standardized factor loadings were found all positive, significant, and ranged from 0.40 to 0.78. Factors are named as the Mathematics Test Anxiety, Course Anxiety, Computation Anxiety, Application Anxiety, and Social Anxiety. All subscales were significantly correlated with the total scale score as well as among themselves. It was concluded that the adapted scale measures the construct of mathematics anxiety in Turkish college student populations.     

An evaluation of the Touch Math method for teaching addition to students with learning disabilities in mathematics

The present study was designed to determine if children with learning disabilities in mathematics could be taught three‐row, double‐digit addition problems using a dot‐notation method. Three children with learning disabilities in mathematics were selected for the study. Prior to the intervention, these students employed a combination of count‐all and count‐on strategies when solving addition problems and relied on concrete referents such as fingers or tallies. A multiple‐probe design was used to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. The experiment consisted of a teaching phase where students learned to count the dots on numbers 1 to 9 in a specified pattern, and an intervention phase where students progressed through nine levels of addition problems. Results indicate that the three subjects were able to learn and apply the dot‐notation method successfully, and to retain the method from one‐and‐a‐half to four‐and‐a‐half months after completing instruction.     

An investigation of the approach to learning of Nepalese tertiary students

This investigation with 342 Nepalese tertiary students indicates that current conceptions of approaches to learning are relevant to these students. Factor analysis of the Study Process Questionnaire (SPQ) also suggests that the structure of learning processes is similar for Nepalese, Australian, and Filipino students. Internal locus of control also seems to be a factor in the adoption of deep and achieving approaches to learning in each of these cultures. Evidence of differences in secondary and tertiary student approaches to learning within Nepal and comparisons between Nepalese and Australian tertiary students' approaches to learning are also presented.     

An investigation into the receptivity of undergraduate students to assessment empowerment

Providing empowerment to students with regard to assessment procedures is a potential mechanism for increasing students’ satisfaction with their education programme and environment. The receptivity of students is likely to vary according to several factors, including their confidence in the ability of assessors to adequately judge the quality of their work, their understanding of assessment procedures and the degree of autonomy they feel is appropriate. Their perception of these factors can also be expected to vary according to how advanced they are in their degree programme. This paper presents the results of a pilot study into the receptivity of first‐ and third‐year undergraduate geography students to various mechanisms and concepts associated with assessment empowerment. Some receptivity to empowerment relating to choice of assessment was observed in first‐year students but the greatest receptivity was found in third‐years, at both individual and community empowerment levels. Third‐year students displayed an increased desire for assessment choice, criteria choice and community empowerment, and decreasing confidence in the lecturer as assessor. Based on these initial results, a methodology for incorporating assessment empowerment into undergraduate teaching is outlined.     

Relationships between executive functioning and homework difficulties in students with and without autism spectrum disorder: An analysis of student- and parent-reports

Despite the fact that homework forms an important cornerstone of student development, many students fail to capitalize on the long-term benefits of doing homework. Several executive skills, including cognitive flexibility, monitoring and planning are suggested as prerequisites for the completion of homework. It follows that homework difficulties may relate to such executive functions. A group of particular interest in this respect is students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), as they are known to suffer from executive dysfunction. The present study examines the extent to which differences in homework difficulties of seventh and eighth grade students with (N = 100) and without ASD (N = 86) may relate to their level of executive functioning. Homework difficulties were examined with student and parent versions of the Homework Difficulties Questionnaire (HDQ) and executive functioning was examined with the Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning (BRIEF). In contrast to students with ASD themselves, parents of students with ASD perceived their children to suffer from more homework problems than students without ASD. For both groups, the level of executive functioning was related to the degree of homework difficulty experienced.     

The impacts of student-, teacher- and school-level factors on mathematics achievement: an exploratory comparative investigation of Singaporean students and the USA students

Reports from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) consistently show that there is a substantial gap in average mathematics achievement between Singapore and the USA. This study conducts an exploratory comparative investigation on the multilevel factors influencing the mathematics achievement of students from these two countries. A conceptual framework together with an integrated model is proposed for the analysis. The TIMSS 2011 eighth grader mathematics data were chosen for this study. Results reveal that the common features influencing mathematics achievement for the students of both countries are student self-confidence, school composition by student background and teacher confidence in teaching mathematics. The cause of the different effects of American students’ mathematics achievement is more associated with resources, whereas the effects of Singaporean students’ mathematics achievement are more related to attitudes, expectations and motivations. The major elements that affect Singaporean student mathematics performances are at the teacher level. Suggestions for future research are discussed.     

An evaluation of social learning procedures designed to aid students with conduct problems

A social learning based intervention program for conduct problem students in the middle grades is described and evaluated. Multiple outcome measures were used to assess treatment effects. Teachers' reports on behavior checklists and daily ratings of targeted behaviors indicated improvement with 9 of the 12 consecutively referred students. A more conservative criterion of improvement on measures from two independent sources indicated improvement with 7 students. All of the 12 students received improved scores on at least one outcome measure, and the program was well received by teachers.     

Hypertext computer study guides and the social studies achievement of students with learning disabilities, remedial students, and regular education students

Hypertext is a relatively new term for today's teachers, who work hard to stay abreast of the quickly changing field of computer technology in education. Hypertext as an educational tool is very different from traditional computer-assisted instructional software, offering the reader immediate access through its computer format to supplemental information. Two related studies were conducted to design and field-test hypertext computer study guides. In Study 1, 40 students (10 with learning disabilities, 15 remedial, and 15 regular education) worked in three different treatment groups (lecture, lecture/computer study guide, and computer study guide). Study 2 involved the five lowest achieving students (two with learning disabilities and three remedial) from Study 1 in an A-B-A design. Results indicated that (a) the computer study guide treatment was as effective as lecture, (b) the lecture/computer study guide treatment was as effective as lecture, (c) posttest scores were higher for the computer study guide group, and (d) retention test scores were higher for the computer study guide group.     

Student error patterns as a function of curriculum design: teaching fractions to remedial high school students and high school students with learning disabilities

This study evaluated the relative effectiveness of a curriculum that incorporated three empirically derived principles of curriculum design with a basal approach in teaching basic fractions concepts to students with learning disabilities and other low performing students in high school remedial math classes. The components of effective mathematics instruction articulated by Good and Grouws (1979) were implemented in both conditions. Thus, the curriculum design variables were isolated by keeping all other aspects of instruction constant. Results indicated that, although both programs were reasonably successful in teaching the material, the curriculum program utilizing sophisticated principles of curriculum design was significantly more effective. Mean scores on a curriculum-referenced test were 96.5% for that group and 82.3% for the basal group. Secondary analyses of item clusters revealed that areas of weakness in the performance of the basal group could be directly linked to hypothesized flaws in its curriculum design.     

Association of group learning with mathematics achievement and mathematics attitude among eighth-grade students in the US

This study examined a large, nationally-representative sample of eighth-grade students in the US to assess how the frequency of group learning activity in mathematics classrooms was associated with mathematics achievement and three measures of attitudes toward mathematics. Results showed that moderate amounts of group work in class had positive effects on mathematics achievement scores. Moreover, a significant interactive effect was evident, with girls showing greater achievement benefits from group work than boys. Increased levels of group work were also associated with more positive attitudes toward mathematics.     

运用U-I图象培养应用数学处理物理问题能力

通过小灯泡的U-I图象引导学生通过图象获取信息、学会用交点法确定工作状态、学会用闭合电路欧姆定律讨论外电路总功率和使用等效法解决实际问题,培养学生应用数学处理物理问题的能力和科学思维。     

Profiles of Chilean students according to academic performance in mathematics: An exploratory study using classification trees and random forests

Attempting to deepen the understanding of factors that explain student performance, this study seeks to identify and characterize profiles of Chilean students based on academic performance in mathematics. As analytical method, statistical techniques known as random forest (RF) and classification and regression tree (CART) were used to identify groups of eighth-grade elementary students according to their performance in 2011 test, using features related to individual and family behavior. The analysis was performed with a database provided by the Education Quality Measurement System of Chile. Results show that “parents’ educational expectations” (42.7%) is key factor to obtain the best children's performances. Additionally, the analysis showed that the “type of school” (26.6%) and the “index of mathematical abilities” (26.1%) influence good performance.