Beyond Self-Efficacy: Connections of Interest and Its Development to Longer Term Performance in Undergraduate Gateway Mathematics Courses (Poster 3)

• In Event: Saturday Poster Session 3:05 pm
  In Poster Session: Explorations in Student Motivation, Self-Efficacy, and Educational Outcomes

Abstract

Large-enrolment gateway courses are commonplace in higher education, leading to students’ motivation and performance declines. Self-efficacy is strongly linked to short-term performance. However, interest and specifically its development, are long-term indicators of motivation related to performance. The current study concurrently tested connections between each of initial self-efficacy, initial interest, and interest change with ongoing performance in a mathematics gateway course. Participants (n=281) completed a pre-test, five quizzes, a self-efficacy measure, and four interest measures. Latent curve analysis on interest (intercept: readiness; slope: change) was embedded within a fully-forward SEM. Prior self-efficacy predicted initial quizzes. Interest intercept and slope predicted middle-of-term and end-of-term quizzes respectively, pointing to their different yet critical supportive roles on performance. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Authors

• Alex Shum, University of Hong Kong

• Luke K. Fryer, University of Hong Kong