Mathematical Dispositions and Student Learning: A Metaphorical Analysis

• In Event: Poster Session 17
  In Poster Session: Cognition and Motivation in STEM

Abstract

The investigators used sets of two familiar objects—food and animals—as potential metaphors to probe students’ mathematical dispositions. They investigated what students’ use of metaphors revealed about their mathematical dispositions. Nearly 1300 9th grade mathematics students participated in the study. The metaphor data were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. There were no differences in disposition due to ethnicity. However, there was a significant difference between the dispositions of male and female students. African Americans females, in particular, showed significantly more positive mathematical dispositions than African American male students. The relatedness of mathematical dispositions to student achievement was also analyzed.

Authors

• Jinfa Cai, University of Delaware

• Victoria Robison, Marquette University

• John Moyer, Marquette University

• Ning Wang, Widener University

• Bikai Nie, University of Delaware