Students' beliefs that success in science depends on exceptional talent negatively impact their motivation to learn. For example, such beliefs have been shown to be a major factor steering students away from taking science and math courses in high school and college. In the present study, we tested a novel story-based instruction that models how…

This study examined whether or not embodied-agent-based learning would help middle-grade females have more positive mathematics learning experiences. The study used an explanatory mixed methods research design. First, a classroom-based experiment was conducted with one hundred twenty 9th graders learning introductory algebra (53% male and 47%…

Chicano and non-Hispanic White Children (n=171, age two and one-half years) from diverse backgrounds were tested using the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities. Mothers were interviewed for family data. Ethnic group performance differences were explained (statistically) by a combination of effects associated with ethnic differences in…