Eighth-Grade Algebra Course Placement and Student Motivation for Mathematics
This study uses student panel data to examine the association between algebra placement and student motivation for mathematics. Changes in achievement goals, expectancy, and task value for students in eighth-grade algebra are compared with those of peers placed in lower-level mathematics courses (N...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SAGE Publishing
2016-01-01
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| Series: | AERA Open |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1177/2332858415625227 |
| _version_ | 1818287215278555136 |
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| author | Rahila Simzar Thurston Domina Cathy Tran |
| author_facet | Rahila Simzar Thurston Domina Cathy Tran |
| author_sort | Rahila Simzar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study uses student panel data to examine the association between algebra placement and student motivation for mathematics. Changes in achievement goals, expectancy, and task value for students in eighth-grade algebra are compared with those of peers placed in lower-level mathematics courses (N = 3,306). In our sample, students placed in algebra reported an increase in performance-avoidance goals as well as decreases in academic self-efficacy and task value. These relations were attenuated for students who had high mathematics achievement prior to algebra placement. Whereas all students reported an overall decline in performance-approach goals over the course of eighth grade, previously high-achieving students reported an increase in these goals. Lastly, previously high-achieving students reported an increase in mastery goals. These findings suggest that while previously high-achieving students may benefit motivationally from eighth-grade algebra placement, placing previously average- and low-performing students in algebra can potentially undermine their motivation for mathematics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T01:36:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-695ec5a90d304f82b8b8e8375988bb61 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2332-8584 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T01:36:57Z |
| publishDate | 2016-01-01 |
| publisher | SAGE Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | AERA Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-695ec5a90d304f82b8b8e8375988bb612022-12-22T00:03:53ZengSAGE PublishingAERA Open2332-85842016-01-01210.1177/233285841562522710.1177_2332858415625227Eighth-Grade Algebra Course Placement and Student Motivation for MathematicsRahila SimzarThurston DominaCathy TranThis study uses student panel data to examine the association between algebra placement and student motivation for mathematics. Changes in achievement goals, expectancy, and task value for students in eighth-grade algebra are compared with those of peers placed in lower-level mathematics courses (N = 3,306). In our sample, students placed in algebra reported an increase in performance-avoidance goals as well as decreases in academic self-efficacy and task value. These relations were attenuated for students who had high mathematics achievement prior to algebra placement. Whereas all students reported an overall decline in performance-approach goals over the course of eighth grade, previously high-achieving students reported an increase in these goals. Lastly, previously high-achieving students reported an increase in mastery goals. These findings suggest that while previously high-achieving students may benefit motivationally from eighth-grade algebra placement, placing previously average- and low-performing students in algebra can potentially undermine their motivation for mathematics.https://doi.org/10.1177/2332858415625227 |
| spellingShingle | Rahila Simzar Thurston Domina Cathy Tran Eighth-Grade Algebra Course Placement and Student Motivation for Mathematics AERA Open |
| title | Eighth-Grade Algebra Course Placement and Student Motivation for Mathematics |
| title_full | Eighth-Grade Algebra Course Placement and Student Motivation for Mathematics |
| title_fullStr | Eighth-Grade Algebra Course Placement and Student Motivation for Mathematics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Eighth-Grade Algebra Course Placement and Student Motivation for Mathematics |
| title_short | Eighth-Grade Algebra Course Placement and Student Motivation for Mathematics |
| title_sort | eighth grade algebra course placement and student motivation for mathematics |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1177/2332858415625227 |
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