Gender differences in elementary school students’ fraction learning: roles of spatial ability and mathematical anxiety
AimIn this study, we examined gender differences in fraction learning and explored potential underlying mechanisms.MethodsThe mediating effects of spatial ability and mathematical anxiety on gender differences in fraction learning were tested in elementary school students. A total of 165 sixth-grade...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1464501/full |
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| author | Ruhai Zhang Zhongting Chen Zhongting Chen Ciping Deng Ciping Deng |
| author_facet | Ruhai Zhang Zhongting Chen Zhongting Chen Ciping Deng Ciping Deng |
| author_sort | Ruhai Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | AimIn this study, we examined gender differences in fraction learning and explored potential underlying mechanisms.MethodsThe mediating effects of spatial ability and mathematical anxiety on gender differences in fraction learning were tested in elementary school students. A total of 165 sixth-grade students (83 girls) from public elementary schools participated in the study. All participants completed a series of tasks, including a mathematical anxiety test, two spatial ability tasks (spatial working memory and mental rotation tests), and a fraction knowledge test (incorporating fraction arithmetic, fraction number line, and fraction concept knowledge).ResultsSignificant gender differences exist in student performance in terms of fractional arithmetic, fractional number line estimation, mathematical anxiety, and spatial working memory. We also identified a chain-mediating effect of spatial working memory and mathematical anxiety on the relationship between gender and fractional arithmetic.ConclusionThe findings suggest a developmental pathway linking gender differences in spatial cognition to fraction learning, contributing to a better understanding of the cognitive and affective factors underlying gender differences in fraction learning during early adolescence. Furthermore, there are several practical implications for reducing gender differences in mathematics education during school years. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a6ad82d3459f4636a66bc2eb10b540fa |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-a6ad82d3459f4636a66bc2eb10b540fa2025-08-20T02:39:27ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782024-12-011510.3389/fpsyg.2024.14645011464501Gender differences in elementary school students’ fraction learning: roles of spatial ability and mathematical anxietyRuhai Zhang0Zhongting Chen1Zhongting Chen2Ciping Deng3Ciping Deng4Shanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Affiliated Mental Health Center (ECNU), School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Affiliated Mental Health Center (ECNU), School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Affiliated Mental Health Center (ECNU), School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Affiliated Mental Health Center (ECNU), School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Key Laboratory of Brain Functional Genomics, Affiliated Mental Health Center (ECNU), School of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, ChinaAimIn this study, we examined gender differences in fraction learning and explored potential underlying mechanisms.MethodsThe mediating effects of spatial ability and mathematical anxiety on gender differences in fraction learning were tested in elementary school students. A total of 165 sixth-grade students (83 girls) from public elementary schools participated in the study. All participants completed a series of tasks, including a mathematical anxiety test, two spatial ability tasks (spatial working memory and mental rotation tests), and a fraction knowledge test (incorporating fraction arithmetic, fraction number line, and fraction concept knowledge).ResultsSignificant gender differences exist in student performance in terms of fractional arithmetic, fractional number line estimation, mathematical anxiety, and spatial working memory. We also identified a chain-mediating effect of spatial working memory and mathematical anxiety on the relationship between gender and fractional arithmetic.ConclusionThe findings suggest a developmental pathway linking gender differences in spatial cognition to fraction learning, contributing to a better understanding of the cognitive and affective factors underlying gender differences in fraction learning during early adolescence. Furthermore, there are several practical implications for reducing gender differences in mathematics education during school years.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1464501/fullgender differencespatial abilitymathematical anxietyfraction learningmediation effect |
| spellingShingle | Ruhai Zhang Zhongting Chen Zhongting Chen Ciping Deng Ciping Deng Gender differences in elementary school students’ fraction learning: roles of spatial ability and mathematical anxiety Frontiers in Psychology gender difference spatial ability mathematical anxiety fraction learning mediation effect |
| title | Gender differences in elementary school students’ fraction learning: roles of spatial ability and mathematical anxiety |
| title_full | Gender differences in elementary school students’ fraction learning: roles of spatial ability and mathematical anxiety |
| title_fullStr | Gender differences in elementary school students’ fraction learning: roles of spatial ability and mathematical anxiety |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gender differences in elementary school students’ fraction learning: roles of spatial ability and mathematical anxiety |
| title_short | Gender differences in elementary school students’ fraction learning: roles of spatial ability and mathematical anxiety |
| title_sort | gender differences in elementary school students fraction learning roles of spatial ability and mathematical anxiety |
| topic | gender difference spatial ability mathematical anxiety fraction learning mediation effect |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1464501/full |
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