Research shows that motivation is a critical precursor to students' science achievement. However, research on the topic yields ambiguous results in different cultural contexts. While the positive association between motivation and science achievement has been evidenced universally, the relatively predictive effect and strength of different…

This paper presents findings of an investigation on students' attitudes towards coding and its relationship with interest in STEM-related careers. A concurrent mixed-method research design involving a pre-intervention-intervention-post-intervention non-equivalent control group was adopted. A sample of 50 grade seven to nine South African students…

Given the paucity of research on mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) in secondary schools in China, this retrospective case study explored the psychological processes underlying the non-voluntary MALL experiences of Chinese secondary school students during a lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19. Drawing on prior technology acceptance…

Research indicates educators benefit from developing Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK), a combination of constructs that inform the design of pedagogically-sound technology-integrated instruction. Applying a mixed-methods explanatory sequential study design, we examined if and how novice K-12 teachers, who developed TPACK during…

Recently, much importance has been placed on early science education. This study examined the associations between kindergarten teachers' science teaching self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and their integration of science into teaching, and investigated how four potential factors (i.e. mastery experience, interpersonal support, previous science…

This study investigated gender disparities in students' science motivational beliefs, conceptualized as self-concept and intrinsic value, from Grades 4 to 8 in 22 countries. The gender-specific relation between science motivational beliefs and achievement was also scrutinized. Data from the 2011 and 2015 national cohorts of the Trends in…

Based on expectancy-value theory, this longitudinal study was designed to test the relations between two achievement task values (i.e., attainment value and utility value) as well as their respective influences on academic achievement and depressive symptoms. This study incorporated a sample of 897 (M[subscript age] = 10.36 years, 55.8% male) and…

Gender stereotypes associate mathematics and sciences with boys, whereas reading and writing are typically associated with girls. This study investigated sex differences in primary school children's motivation (confidence and value) across four academic subjects (maths, science, reading and writing) and examined how their identification with…

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education is an international focus in teaching and learning, and factors influencing students' science achievement vary throughout the world. Guided by the Social Role and Expectancy-Value Theories, we investigated the role of fourth and eighth graders' gender and attitudes toward science…

Many Hong Kong Chinese parents believe that music training enhances the academic achievement of their children. The current study investigates the relationship between the extent and outcome of students' music training, their perceptions of the value of the subjects they study and their academic achievement. A total of 286 students in Primary 4, 5…

Over the past decade, there has been a strong national push to increase minority students' positive attitudes towards STEM-related careers. However, despite this focus, minority students have remained underrepresented in these fields. Some researchers have directed their attention towards improving the STEM pipeline which carries students through…

Shy children display wariness in unfamiliar social situations and often experience feelings of social anxiety. This study explored the potential mediating role of cognitive biases in the link between shyness and social anxiety in early adolescence. In particular, we focused on judgments of the probability and cost of negative social situations…

The Motivation for Educational Attainment (MEA) questionnaire, developed to assess facets related to early adolescents' motivation to complete high school, has a bifactor structure with a large general factor and three smaller orthogonal specific factors (teacher expectations, peer aspirations, value of education). This prospective validity study…

Research on perceived instrumentality of students' academic work for attaining life goals has shown to have positive effects on academic achievement and motivation The purpose of the study was to examine the changes in perceived instrumentality over time and to identify how significant others such as parents, teachers and peers affect changes in…

Data from a larger study were used to identify variables that best predict children's perceived usefulness of mathematics [PUM]. Gender differences in PUM scores were also explored using a sample of 300 grade 7 children and 225 parents from February to May 2011 in Mozambique. Surveys and interviews were used to collect data. Consistent with…