Mathematics Interest as a Mediator of the Relationship Between Self-Efficacy and Participation in Extracurricular Activities

• In Event: Personal and Social Factors in Mathematics Education

Abstract

Self-efficacy is a strong predictor of student achievement (Hackett & Betz, 1989) and an important aspect for college aspiration and future career choices (Strayhorn, 2015). As self-efficacy and student achievement have a powerful relationship, factors that mediate this relationship becomes highly important as well. This study investigated whether high school students’ mathematics interest mediated the relationship between students’ mathematics self-efficacy and participation in math-related extracurricular activities. This descriptive causal-comparative study used publicly available data from the 2009 High School Longitudinal Study. Data were analyzed through Principal Component Analysis and Hierarchical Regression analyses. Mediation testing was conducted using Andrew Hayes’ PROCESS software (2012). Findings revealed that students’ mathematics interest moderately mediated the relationship between self-efficacy and participation in math-related extracurricular activities.

Authors

• Perihan Fidan, Tennessee Technological University

• Abir Aly Eldaba, Tennessee Technological University