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Patterns of Motivational Beliefs in the Science Learning of Total, High-, and Low-Achieving Students: Evidence of Taiwanese TIMSS 2011 Data

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the pattern of the relationships among motivational beliefs and science achievement of 8th grade Taiwanese students, given that the students in Taiwan have high science academic achievement but low motivational beliefs in science learning on a series of international large-scale assessments. Three motivational beliefs in science learning, including self-concept, intrinsic value, and utility value, were conceptualized based on the modern expectancy-value theory. Data are from the Taiwanese proportion of the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study 2011 dataset. Three groups of students, namely, the total group, the high-achieving group (HAG), and the low-achieving group (LAG), were examined. Results showed that the patterns of the relative predictions of motivational beliefs to science achievement were distinct for each group. In the total group, all the motivational beliefs could positively predict science achievement (R 2 = 20%). On the other hand, self-concept could positively and negatively predict science achievement for the HAG and LAG students, respectively, and intrinsic value could positively predict science achievement for the LAG students. In conclusion, this study, based on the Taiwanese representative sample, contributes to the discussion regarding national variation in students’ motivational beliefs and provides empirical-based evidence of the motivational beliefs in science learning of students of different levels of ability.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan, under grant no. MOST 104-2628-S-008-001-MY2. The authors also wish to express their gratitude to two anonymous reviewers and the editor, Dr. James Shymansky, for valuable and constructive suggestions on the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Institute of Learning and Instruction, National Central University, Taiwan, No. 300, Jhongda Rd., Jhongli Dist., Taoyuan City, 32001, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Cheng-Lung Wang & Pey-Yan Liou

  2. Center of Teacher Education, National Central University, Taiwan, No. 300, Jhongda Rd., Jhongli Dist., Taoyuan City, 32001, Taiwan, Republic of China

    Pey-Yan Liou

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  1. Cheng-Lung Wang
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  2. Pey-Yan Liou
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Correspondence to Pey-Yan Liou.

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Wang, CL., Liou, PY. Patterns of Motivational Beliefs in the Science Learning of Total, High-, and Low-Achieving Students: Evidence of Taiwanese TIMSS 2011 Data. Int J of Sci and Math Educ 16, 603–618 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-017-9797-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-017-9797-3

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