Latent Class Analyses of Students' Attitudes Toward Mathematics in the United States, Singapore, and Korea

• In Event: AERA Poster Session 9
  In Poster Session: Mathematics Education Research (San Diego)

Abstract

This study employed latent class analyses on TIMSS 2015 data to examine eighth-grade students’ attitudes toward mathematics in the U.S., Singapore, and Korea, based on which the characteristics of U.S. students were highlighted. Three 5-class latent class models revealed 7 different types of students in the three countries: All Positive, Interested + Self-doubt, Interested + Diffident, Reluctant + Confident, “Not so Useful”, Utility Only, and All Negative. Within each country, the more confident classes had higher average mathematics achievement. The All Positive, Utility Only, and All Negative classes could be found in all three countries, while the Interested + Self-doubt class was unique to the U.S.. Explanations and implications for mathematics education practices were discussed.

Authors

• Dihao Leng, Boston College

• Minjie Zhu

• Yi Lu