Exploring the Relationship between Students' Attitudes toward Mathematics and Mathematics Achievement in the UAE

The present study aimed to examine the relations of early numeracy activities and skills to mathematics dispositions, engagement, and achievement among 26,859 fourth graders in the United Arab Emirates who took part in the sixth cycle of the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) in 2015. The study also explored the mediating effects of mathematics dispositions and engagement on the relations between early numeracy activities and skills and mathematics achievement among these fourth graders. Results of path analyses, after controlling for participants’ demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, indicated that early numeracy activities and skills were significantly and positively related to mathematics dispositions, engagement, and achievement. Further, results of mediational analyses suggested that confidence in mathematics had a significant mediating effect on the relations between early numeracy activities and skills and mathematics achievement. The findings of the study highlight the crucial role that early numeracy activities and skills play in enhancing fourth graders’ mathematics dispositions, engagement, and achievement in the United Arab Emirates.

This report presents the achievement results for Ireland in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2023. TIMSS assesses the mathematical and scientific knowledge and skills of students in Fourth Grade and Eighth Grade (Fourth Class and Second Year in Ireland). TIMSS is a study of the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) and has been conducted every four years since 1995. TIMSS 2023 is the eighth cycle of the study and included 656,360 students from 65 countries. This national report focuses on trends in overall achievement in Ireland, as well as the distribution of achievement (performance at various percentiles), student performance at the TIMSS International Benchmarks, relative strengths and weaknesses on the TIMSS content and cognitive domains, and teachers’ reports of curriculum coverage. Performance in Ireland is explored in the context of selected countries; compared with previous cycles of TIMSS where data are available (since 2011 for Fourth Class and since 2015 for Second Year); and, where applicable, examined by gender and by socioeconomic status at both individual level and at school level (DEIS status). TIMSS 2023 also marks Ireland’s transition from paper-based to digital testing, as part of which Ireland completed a national mode effect study to examine the extent to which any differences in student achievement exist between digital and paper testing. Initial findings from this mode effect study are also presented. Finally, some conclusions and implications for policymakers in Ireland are outlined.

Purpose: Few studies have examined the role of inclusivity in international assessments of student achievement, such as the TIMSS (Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study). The current study examined how the inclusivity of students with disabilities at the classroom level across countries may be associated with achievement scores, thus affecting national rankings. Method: To achieve this purpose, TIMSS mathematics and science achievement data were utilized. Findings: Results revealed how national rankings may be adjusted after examining the role of inclusivity in the classroom while statistically controlling for national economic and well-being indicators. Limitations: In terms of international comparisons, a country's history and culture can be critical in understanding its educational system and how it relates to the observed outcomes. The variables that we included in this study are quantified indicators that may reflect only some facets of each country's education system and special education inclusivity. Practical Implications: This study provides an overview of the measurement issues of children with disabilities within schools from the international context of the TIMSS while exploring the impact of student participation on rankings. Social Implications: The current study provides an empirical investigation of how country rankings in international assessment can move according to sociopolitical decisions. Originality: The current study is the first of its kind to examine the impact of inclusivity in the classroom on country rankings in international assessments.

ABSTRACT: This paper analyzed elementary TED (Teacher Education) programs in the top performing TIMSS ( Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study ) Asian, i.e. Japan, South Korea, and Singapore countries to explore how much emphasis should be placed on general content knowledge, versus general pedagogical knowledge, and versus methodological pedagogical knowledge. Three theoretical frames of reference were analyzed during this process: whether the programs were consecutive or concurrent; the model of partnership followed between universities and field experience institutions; and the overall status of teachers in the society as categorized by position-based or career-based. Methodologically, only peer-reviewed literature published between 2000 and 2018 was used. It was found that the top performing Asian TIMSS countries usually: have consecutive and concurrent options; provide very intensive TED experiences to their students focusing on diverse and practical field experiences; place more emphasis on academic subject expertise than pedagogy; require students to major in at least one academic subject; have national accreditation institutes for unifying standards; their sponsor countries enforce various types of induction and professional development once in the field; offer salaries competitive with other professions that require the same amount of years and training; and, most importantly, only accept the top academic achievers into their programs. One of the recommendations is that since Saudi Arabia has just initiated “Vision 2030”, a sort of privatization schema for the entire economy, it seems higher selection criteria will be critical to TED in line with this national vision. KEY WORDS: Teacher Education; Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study ; Asian Countries; Comparative Study. About the Author: Dr. Mohammed Sabrin is an Assistant Professor at the College of Education, Taibah University, Office SB-29, College of Education Building B-13, Al-Madinah al-Munawwarah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. E-mail: msabrin@taibahu.edu.sa Suggested Citation: Sabrin, Mohammed. (2018). “A Comparative Policy Analysis of Elementary Teacher Education in the Top Performing Asian TIMSS Countries” in EDUCARE: International Journal for Educational Studies , Volume 11(1), August, pp.1-16. Bandung, Indonesia: Minda Masagi Press owned by ASPENSI with ISSN 1979-7877 (print) and ISSN 2621-587X (online). A rticle Timeline : Accepted (February 17, 2018); Revised (May 2, 2018); and Published (August 30, 2018).

This chapter begins with a description of the IEA’s Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) sampling framework. The research study was based on data from three cycles of TIMSS collected at grades four and eight from 12 jurisdictions (Australia, England, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iran, Japan, Norway, Ontario, Quebec, Singapore, Slovenia, and the USA) that participated at both grades in 1995, 2007, and 2015. The motivation variables available in each cycle of administration are outlined, together with how conceptually similar measures for value, enjoyment, and self-confidence in mathematics were constructed; descriptions of demographic and achievement measures used in the analysis are also provided. Two-step cluster analysis was used to create separate profiles of student motivation for each set of data. The characteristics of each motivational cluster were evaluated to ascertain whether differences in cluster membership were related to student background variables (such as sex, time on homework, parental education, and home resources) and mathematics achievement.

Poor mathematics performance was generally reported from international assessments such as Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) among Malaysian students. Malaysia is ranked 52nd and 48th in the assessments for 2012 and 2018 respectively, while Singapore, Japan, South Korea, and even Vietnam have consistently performed well and held the top spots among the 78 countries evaluated in the PISA. Although numerous new technologies have been introduced, developed and implemented for education, incorporation of IT capability (ITC) to teach and learn Mathematics where still lacking commonly. Additionally, learning Mathematics in the traditional teaching contents could not accomplish desired learning outcomes because of dry contents and dull teachers. Therefore, this study is to design an appropriate ITC framework for improving learning experience and academic achievement of learning Mathematics. This study has adopted the development model of Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation and Evaluation (ADDIE) and Mayer (2010)’s cognitive theory for multimedia instructional content design. This study developed a new Multimedia Probability and Statistics system (MMPASS) for a subject of Probability and Statistics. The developed topics were concepts of discrete random variables and probability distribution function which were puzzled by students from preliminary study. An experiment was conducted with both control and experimental groups. The developed MMPASS blended multiple influential multimedia elements in the learning contents. A quantitative method and proportional stratified sampling were used to collect data. The blended topics were used by the experimental group whilst the control group was solely learning using the existing learning contents. Questionnaires were distributed to both groups after the lessons. 66 students participated in this survey. The collected data was then analysed and an ITC model was formed. Results of this study show that Perceived System Quality, Perceived Information Content Quality and Perceived System Performance as independent variables significantly improved learning experience. The findings also reveal that the performances of the experimental group have a higher mean score (9.65/10.00) compared to the control group (8.03/10.00), indicating the use of MMPASS improved students’ learning performance in subjects that involve understanding of concepts. While there is a lack of established ITC framework and IT application for Mathematics education in Malaysia, this study has verified the use of ITC improving performance of learning Mathematics in Malaysia.

The purpose of the study was to check how students of grade VIII in Urban Sindh, Pakistan performed on mathematics subject based on Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) assessment framework. The study used a descriptive design from quantitative research methods. The data were collected from three different educational sectors of urban Sindh. The study used a mathematics test based on the TIMSS framework and 60 items (44 MCQs & 16 CRQs) were adapted from released items. Purposive sampling was used to select the schools (n=6) and random sampling was followed to recruit the research participants (n=180) from grade VIII. There were 38% female and 62% of male research participants. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical analyses technique. The results indicate that the research participant’s average score is below 30%, indicating an overall low performance of all schools in mathematics tests based on the TIMSS 2011 assessment framework. Some important recommendations for reducing the gap between the proposed and the achieved expertise level in mathematics are given.

The internal/external frame of reference (I/E) model and dimensional comparison theory posit paradoxical relations between achievement (ACH) and self-concept (SC) in mathematics (M) and verbal (V) domains; ACH in each domain positively affects SC in the matching domain (e.g., MACH to MSC) but negatively in the nonmatching domain (e.g., MACH to VSC). This substantive-methodological synergy based on latent variable models of Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) data supports the generalizability of these predictions in relation to: mathematics and science domains, intrinsic motivation as well as self-concept, and age and nationality, based on nationally representative matched samples of fourth- and eighth-grade students from three Middle Eastern Islamic, five Western, and four Asian countries ( N=117,321 students) with important theoretical, developmental, cross-cultural, and methodological implications.

Education systems can be conceptualized as the scaffolding that supports the construction and development of student competences. Among other things, the size, location, and learning resources of schools can affect how efficient that system is at delivering the required support. Data from international large-scale assessments have indicated that the resources of rural schools may differ from those of urban schools; students in schools in urban and more economically developed environments often demonstrate higher achievement. Data from IEA’s Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2019 from across the Dinaric region provides information on variations in the size of schools and allocation, student achievement, and the different kinds of scaffolding/support for learning in urban and rural schools. Secondary analyses of the TIMSS 2019 data for the Dinaric region, taking into account home and school factors, show that the types of support available for student learning differed between urban and rural schools. The findings suggest that policymakers should focus on improving the learning resources available to rural schools across the region, particularly in response to their lack of technological resources for developing students’ digital competencies. Concomitant investment is required for the development of teachers’ competencies for the effective use of such educational resources. Educators need to compensate for lack of family support for some students; in such situations, schools need to enhance the scaffolding for learning available to children.KeywordsAchievement gapGrade fourLocation of schoolScaffoldingTrends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS)

South African learner achievement remains poor, despite large investment in schooling over the last two decades. Literature and research findings offer no single explanation or solution. In this article, the authors explored the relative contribution of specific language factors such as the role of home- and school-language equivalence, cultural and economic capital, and other school and classroom factors to Science achievement. The analysis identified specific language and/or contextual factors having the biggest influence on learner achievement. This was achieved through secondary analysis of South African Grade Nine (N = 12,000) data from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2011. Multiple-regression modelling using contextual and achievement data suggested that home- and school-language equivalence and how frequently learners used the school language at home were strongly associated with the Science achievement results of Grade Nine learners in South Africa. Several other language factors that could be seen as cultural capital, beyond broader economic capital, some classroom-related contextual conditions and selected school-level factors, also showed strong influences. It is concluded that language, teacher training, and broader economic policy changes and their thorough implementation are required to address these concerns.

This article compares the effects of family background and school resources on fourth-grade students’ math achievement, using data from the 2011 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). In order to ameliorate potential floor effects, it uses relative risk and population attributable risk to examine the effects of family background and low levels of school resources. Four findings stand out: (1) the percentage of vulnerable students decreases as GDP increases, but this relationship weakens at higher levels of GDP; (2) the relative risk associated with low socioeconomic status is positively related to GDP, but the relative risk associated with low school resources is unrelated to GDP; (3) the population attributable risk associated with some of the family and school risk factors tends to fall with rising GDP, but varies considerably amongst countries; and (4) family background effects are stronger than school resource effects in low- and high-income countries.

The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) aims to provide a broad perspective for evaluating and improving education. This assessment also ranks the participant countries based on their performance and makes inferences about factors affecting achievement and learning. However, the study may not function as it was expected because of differences in curricular, cultural, or language settings among countries. Consequently, this challenges assumptions about measurement equivalency. The present study aims to assess the equivalency of mathematics items on the TIMSS (2007) study across Australian and Indonesia. Students’ responses were subjected to Rasch analysis to determine DIF items. The results revealed that many items of mathematics tests are problematic because they showed significant bias. The study also found that Australian students performed better and found mathematics items on the test easier than their Indonesian counterparts did. Several factors such as curricular differences, methods used to solve mathematics problems, availability of textbooks and teachers’ quality might explain the existence of DIF between the countries. These findings indicate that serious limitations of using TIMSS results in comparing the performance of students across countries. Thus, further empirical evidence is needed before TIMSS 2007 results can be meaningfully used in research. Keywords: DIF items, mathematics test items, Rasch model

The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) aims to provide a broad perspective for evaluating and improving education. This assessment also ranks the participant countries based on their performance and makes inferences about factors affecting achievement and learning. However, the study may not function as it was expected because of differences in curricular, cultural, or language settings among countries. Consequently, this challenges assumptions about measurement equivalency. The present study aims to assess the equivalency of mathematics items on the TIMSS (2007) study across Australian and Indonesia. Students’ responses were subjected to Rasch analysis to determine DIF items. The results revealed that many items of mathematics tests are problematic because they showed significant bias. The study also found that Australian students performed better and found mathematics items on the test easier than their Indonesian counterparts did. Several factors such as curricular differences, methods used to solve mathematics problems, availability of textbooks and teachers’ quality might explain the existence of DIF between the countries. These findings indicate that serious limitations of using TIMSS results in comparing the performance of students across countries. Thus, further empirical evidence is needed before TIMSS 2007 results can be meaningfully used in research.

This study investigates the confounding effects of reverse-coded items on the measurement of confidence in mathematics using data from the 2019 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). The sample came from the Saudi Arabian cohort of 8th graders in 2019 involving 4,515 students. Through mixture modeling, two subgroups responding in similar ways to reverse-coded items were identified representing approximately 9% of the sample. Their response to positively valenced and negatively valenced items showed inconsistency and the observed unexpected response patterns were further verified using Lz*, U3, and the number of Guttman errors person fit indicators. Psychometric analyses on the full sample and the truncated sample after deleting the aberrant responders indicated significant improvements in both internal consistency reliability and factorial validity. It was concluded that reverse-coded items contribute to systematic measurement error that is associated with distorted item level parameters that compromised the scale's reliability and validity. The study underscores the need for reconsideration of reverse-coded items in survey design, particularly in contexts involving younger populations and low-achieving students.

This study aims to shed light on the association between private tutoring and academic achievement in mathematics among primary school students in Qatar. Utilizing data from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2019, we employ a propensity score technique to elucidate the disparities in mathematics achievement levels between two distinct groups: students who receive private tutoring and those who do not. Our findings indicate that students who engage in private tutoring have lower odds of attaining higher achievement scores in mathematics. .