Towards an understanding of the growth of primary schoolchildren's mathematical ability using latent curve analysis.

• Main Author: Koh, Ian Chong-Hua.
• Other Authors: Ho Moon-Ho Ringo
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2013
• Subjects: DRNTU::Social sciences::Psychology::Motivation
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/52729
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This study investigated the growth of children’s mathematical ability over time, with mastery goals, performance goals, and socioeconomic status (SES) as predictors of mathematical scores. Five hundred and forty children from four age cohorts (grade 0, grade 2, grade 4, and grade 6) participated in a study that assessed them on mathematical ability and motivation over four years. Latent growth curve modelling was used for the main analysis, with motivation goals and SES as predictors. Results indicated that both mastery and performance motivation goals were nonsignificant predictors of mathematical ability for all grade levels, while SES was a significant predictor of the base rate, but not the rate of growth, of mathematical ability. Implications of the study are discussed.