ERIC Number: ED190397
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1980-Apr
Pages: 34
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
A Longitudinal Study of Attitudes Toward Mathematics in 5th Through 12th Grades: Age and Sex Differences.
Kaczala, Caroline M.
The determinants of student decisions to take or not take mathematics were studied. The variables selected for the study were derived from the expectancy/valve model of behavior. Choice is found to be influenced most directly by the utility valve of mathematics for attaining future goals and the interest of on-going mathematics activities. Students from fifth through twelfth grades were measured at two different points in time to gauge the effects of maturing one year. Among the findings were that all students rated mathematics as more useful for males than females. There were few sex differences found in responses when the number of years studying mathematics was equated for both sexes. The effects of grade or age level proved more numerous and generally stronger than the "sex effects" in the study. It was found that children become more pessimistic and negative about mathematics as they grow older. Tables include the survey questions and statistical analysis of the results. (MP)
Publication Type: Reports - Research; Speeches/Meeting Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Inst. of Mental Health (DHEW), Rockville, MD.; National Inst. of Education (DHEW), Washington, DC.
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Note: Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (Boston, MA, April 7-11, 1980). Table 3 marginally legible.
