Evaluating change in attitude towards mathematics using the 'then-now' procedure in a cooperative learning programme.
BACKGROUND
Tertiary students' attitudes to mathematics are frequently negative and resistant to change, reflecting low self-efficacy. Some educators believe that greater use should be made of small group, collaborative teaching. However, the results of such interventions should be subject to assessments of bias caused by a shift in the frame of reference used by students in reporting their attitudes.


OBJECTIVE
This study was designed to assess whether traditional pretest-post-test procedures would indicate positive changes in mathematics attitude during a programme of cooperative learning, and whether an examination of any attitudinal change using the 'then-now' procedure would indicate bias in the results due to a shift in the internal standards for expressing attitude.


METHODS
Participants were 141 undergraduate students enrolled in a 12-week statistics and research design component of a course in educational psychology.


METHODS
Using multivariate procedures, pretest, post-test, and then-test measures of mathematics self-concept and anxiety were examined in conjunction with a cooperative learning approach to teaching.


RESULTS
Significant positive changes between pretest and post-test were found for both mathematics self-concept and mathematics anxiety. There were no significant differences between the actual pretest and retrospective pretest measures of attitude. The results were not moderated by prior level of mathematics study.


CONCLUSIONS
Conclusions about the apparent effectiveness of a cooperative learning programme were strengthened by the use of the retrospective pretest procedure.
Townsend
Michael
M
University of Auckland, New Zealand. mar.townsend@auckland.ac.nz
Wilton
Keri
K
D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D001290:Attitude; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D008297:Male; D008433:Mathematics; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires