Student Personal Beliefs & Behaviors – Scales and Sample Items
Ability
• Math Efficacy: General
How certain are you that you can learn everything taught in math?
• Math Efficacy: PALS
How sure are you that you can do even the most difficult homework problems in math?
• Math Efficacy: Problem Solving Strategy Use
How certain are you that you could find more than one way to solve a math problem?
Value
• Interest (Combined)
I am fascinated by math.
• Interest (Eccles)
How much do you like doing math?
• Interest (New)
I enjoy the subject of math.
• Utility (Combined)
Math concepts are valuable because they will help me in the future.
• Utility (Eccles)
In general, how useful is what you learn in math?
• Utility (New)
Math concepts are valuable because they will help me in the future.
• Attainment (Combined)
Compared to most of your other school subjects, how important is it for you to be good at math?
• Attainment (Eccles)
I feel that, to me, being good at solving problems which involve math or reasoning mathematically is important.
• Attainment (New)
It is important to me to be a person who reasons mathematically.
• Cost
Success in math requires a big investment of my time.
Emotion and Affect
• Math Anxiety
Math tests scare me.
• Negative Affect
How often do you feel anxious in your math class?
• Positive Affect
How often do you feel happy in your math class?
Achievement Goal Orientation
• Mastery Approach
Learning a lot of new things is what is important to me in math.
• Performance Approach
In math, doing better than other students is important to me.
• Performance Avoid
My goal is to keep others from thinking I’m not smart in math.
Self-Regulation
• Cognitive Strategy Use – rehearsal
When I study for math, I read my notes, my homework, and the textbook over and over.
• Cognitive Strategy Use – organization
I outline my notes from math class or the textbook chapter.
• Metacognitive Strategy Use – planning, monitoring, regulating
During math class I think about whether I understand what the teacher is trying to explain.
• Social/Contextual Strategy Use – Help-Seeking
If I didn’t understand something in this math class, I would ask another student in class for help.
• Time Management
I spend my time memorizing key equations or facts when I study for math.