Self-Determination in Maths Education: How to Strengthen Students’ Positive Attitude to Mathematics and Develop Their Emotional/Social Competences

The aim of this study was to verify the effectiveness of the self-determination theory (SDT) in mathematics teaching methodology. In the experimental group, 62 fifth-graders had 10 months of maths lessons according to an original programme that prioritises three needs: autonomy, competence and rela...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Tomasz Knopik, Urszula Oszwa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Ignatianum University Press 2023-06-01
Series:Multidisciplinary Journal of School Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://czasopisma.ignatianum.edu.pl/jpe/article/view/1993
Description
Summary:The aim of this study was to verify the effectiveness of the self-determination theory (SDT) in mathematics teaching methodology. In the experimental group, 62 fifth-graders had 10 months of maths lessons according to an original programme that prioritises three needs: autonomy, competence and relatedness. The following research questions were formulated: • How did students’ attitudes towards mathematics change under the influence of methodological interventions aimed at satisfying the three SDT needs? • Did the methodological solutions contribute to better emotional/social competences in the students? • Did the intervention result in higher maths achievement, measured by a maths knowledge and skills test and grades in the subject? The findings included statistically significant differences in 1) positive attitude towards mathematics (measured by the semantic differential technique), 2) emotional/social competences (measured by the KA scale from the tool called TROS-KA) and 3) mathematical achievements (measured by a maths test and grades in school) in comparison to the control group (N = 59), where less positive attitudes towards mathematics, lower maths grades and no significant increase in emotional/social competences were observed.
ISSN:2543-7585
2543-8409