Motivation and Mathematics Performance: A Longitudinal Study in Early Educational Stages

Abstract

This longitudinal study analyses the predictive value of a set of motivational variables on academic performance in the mathematics area. Analyses were performed on a sample of 180 children, with the data evaluated in two stages in formal educational settings (from kindergarten until 2nd year of Primary School). Likewise, differences between three groups (with low, average, and high mathematical performance at the end of second year of Primary School) in motivational and attributional variables assessed initially are also studied. The results show a significant predictive power on later mathematics achievement for self-perceived competence. Also persistence, attitude, and positive attributional dimension of internality have an additional significant contribution. The results also show that high and low performance groups at the end of 2nd year of Primary School showed significant differences at 5 years, both in self-perceived competence and in persistence. There are also differences in persistence between average and low performance groups. These results are discussed in terms of their theoretical and practical implications.