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Dissertation
Examining Relationships Among Undergraduate Precalculus Students' Mathematical Mindsets, Satisfaction, and Success
University of West Florida Libraries
Doctor of Education (EDD), University of West Florida
2022
Abstract
Students are entering postsecondary institutions without the mathematical skills needed to be successful in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics majors (STEM), leading to a shortage of qualified graduates. Consequently, institutions must identify ways to increase satisfaction and performance in mathematics. Mindset theory, with constructs of malleability of mindset and brain growth and plasticity, suggests that some people believe that intelligence is fixed while others believe intelligence can be increased through effort and study. The purpose of this quantitative quasi-experimental study was to examine the difference in freshman-level undergraduate precalculus students’ mathematical growth mindsets after completing an online mindset training and to examine the relationships among students’ mindset, satisfaction, and success in precalculus at a regional comprehensive university in the Southeastern United States. This study utilized a nonequivalent control group design, and it implemented an initial and postsurvey based on the Mathematics-Oriented Implicit Theories of Intelligence Scale (MOITIS) and the Mathematics Aptitudes and Perceptions Survey (MAPS) to measure mindset and satisfaction. The analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was statistically significant, F(1, 151) = 9.977 and p = .002, indicating a difference in the mindsets of participants completing mindset interventions. Correlation analyses showed a significant positive correlation between growth mindset and satisfaction in mathematics, r(154) = .379, p .001 two-tailed, and between growth mindset and performance, rs(154) = .205, p < .011 two-tailed. The results of this study may be used to justify the implementation of mindset interventions at postsecondary institutions. Further research may expand the study into additional gateway STEM courses.
Details
- Title
- Examining Relationships Among Undergraduate Precalculus Students' Mathematical Mindsets, Satisfaction, and Success
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Contributors
- Byron Havard (Committee Chair)Jia Liu (Committee Member)Giang-Nguyen Nguyen (Committee Member)
- Publisher
- University of West Florida Libraries
- Format
- pdf
- Number of pages
- 229
- Copyright
- Unpublished work © Aletheia Lynn Zambesi
- Identifiers
- 99380090595806600
- Academic Unit
- School of Education
- Language
- English
- Awarding Institution
- University of West Florida; Doctor of Education (EDD)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Education (EDD), University of West Florida