Trends in student motivation profiles in TIMSS Mathematics across 20 years: Insights from cluster analysis

This is a presentation at the Faculty of Education & Social Work outlining the methodology and results of a recently published book, of which I am a co-author. I report results for 2015 TIMSS Math survey study of student motivational attitudes and a classical 2-step cluster analysis of attitudinal mixes in 12 countries. Student self-reported self-efficacy, value for, and interest in mathematics scores are used to create clusters of respondents. Differences in demographic and outcome characteristics of the clusters are examined. We conclude that if a mixed profile exists it is better to have high self-efficacy in than high value for mathematics, in terms of achievement. We consider that this phenomenon helps explain why the motivational variables have such weak correlations with achievement.