title: Explanatory model of emotional-cognitive variables in school mathematics performance: a longitudinal study in primary school.
abstract: This study tested a structural model of cognitive-emotional explanatory variables to explain performance in mathematics. The predictor variables assessed were related to students' level of development of early mathematical competencies (EMCs), specifically, relational and numerical competencies, predisposition toward mathematics, and the level of logical intelligence in a population of primary school Chilean students (n = 634). This longitudinal study also included the academic performance of the students during a period of 4 years as a variable. The sampled students were initially assessed by means of an Early Numeracy Test, and, subsequently, they were administered a Likert-type scale to measure their predisposition toward mathematics (EPMAT) and a basic test of logical intelligence. The results of these tests were used to analyse the interaction of all the aforementioned variables by means of a structural equations model. This combined interaction model was able to predict 64.3% of the variability of observed performance. Preschool students' performance in EMCs was a strong predictor for achievement in mathematics for students between 8 and 11 years of age. Therefore, this paper highlights the importance of EMCs and the modulating role of predisposition toward mathematics. Also, this paper discusses the educational role of these findings, as well as possible ways to improve negative predispositions toward mathematical tasks in the school domain.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Metodología de la Investigación e Informática Educacional, Facultad de Educación, Universidad de Concepción Concepción, Chile.
authors.forename: Gamal
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cerda
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ingeniería Matemática, Facultad de Ciencias Físicas y Matemáticas, Universidad de Concepción Concepción, Chile.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Psicología, Universidad de Cádiz Puerto Real, Spain.
authors.forename: José I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Navarro
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Psicología, Universidad de Cádiz Puerto Real, Spain.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aguilar
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Psicología, Universidad de Córdoba Córdoba, Spain.
authors.forename: José A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Casas
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Psicología, Universidad de Cádiz Puerto Real, Spain.
authors.forename: Estíbaliz
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aragón
keywords: logical intelligence; mathematical competencies; performance; predisposition; structural model