Search

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between teaching quality and students' expectancy-value motivation, effort-regulation, future interest, and connection frequency in mathematics in 1,113 high school students. Data were analyzed using multilevel structural equation modeling, and findings showed support for the hypotheses tested. First, we found that teaching quality – specifically, teaching for relevance, acknowledge negative feelings, participation encouragement, using a non-controlling language, provide optimal challenge, focus on the process, structure the class, provide positive feedback, and caring – predicted students' expectancy-value motivation. Second, students' connection frequency, effort, and future interest in math were predicted, at individual and class level, by students' task-expectancy motivation. Third, students' connection frequency, effort, and future interest were predicted, at individual and class level, by their task-value in math. Finally, findings were discussed in terms of their applications for educational practice and methodological suggestions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to analyze the university students' self-efficacy for learning how to conduct research and how these ideas interact with their conceptions about research. The sample was made up of 1,304 students from Universidad Técnica de Machala, Ecuador. A questionnaire about self-efficacy for learning how to conduct research was applied to these students. The results of this study show that the ideas of self-efficacy are being formed. Students see research as a requirement for continuing their professional career; therefore, it is from that idea that research is conceived more as product than as a process. There exists a relative interest and confidence in conducting research. As a result, it has been determined that ideas of efficacy in the linear model do not change the research notions that university students have. It was also found that university social representations determine the strength and direction of personal beliefs in the ability to learn how to conduct research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]