Mind the gap: investigating misaligned mathematics study intentions and perceived capabilities

Erin Mackenzie; Kathryn Holmes; Nathan Berger; Matt Thompson

Mind the gap: investigating misaligned mathematics study intentions and perceived capabilities

Western Sydney University

Research output: Chapter in Book / Conference Paper › Conference Paper › peer-review

Abstract

Strengthening lower secondary students’ attitudes toward mathematics is key to addressing declining enrolments in higher-level courses. This mixed-methods study examined the alignment between students’ perceived mathematics capability and study intentions, as well as demographic and attitudinal differences. Results suggest that students with aligned intentions had more adaptive attitudes than those with an intentions-capability gap. Many who intended to study below their perceived capability cited low utility value, suggesting that enhancing mathematics’ perceived utility could increase higher-level enrolments.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Unlocking Minds in Mathematics Education: Proceedings of the 47th Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, 6 - 10 July 2025, Canberra
Editors	Sitti Maesuri Patahuddin, Lorraine Gaunt, Danielle Harris, Kristen Tripet
Place of Publication	Adelaide, S.A.
Publisher	Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia
Pages	285-292
Number of pages	8
ISBN (Electronic)	9781920846367
Publication status	Published - 2025
Event	Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia. Conference - Canberra, Australia Duration: 6 Jul 2025 → 10 Jul 2025 Conference number: 47th

Conference

Conference	Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia. Conference
Abbreviated title	MERGA
Country/Territory	Australia
City	Canberra
Period	6/07/25 → 10/07/25

Cite this

Mackenzie, E., Holmes, K., Berger, N., & Thompson, M. (2025). Mind the gap: investigating misaligned mathematics study intentions and perceived capabilities. In S. M. Patahuddin, L. Gaunt, D. Harris, & K. Tripet (Eds.), Unlocking Minds in Mathematics Education: Proceedings of the 47th Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, 6 - 10 July 2025, Canberra (pp. 285-292). Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia.

Mackenzie, Erin ; Holmes, Kathryn ; Berger, Nathan et al. / Mind the gap: investigating misaligned mathematics study intentions and perceived capabilities. Unlocking Minds in Mathematics Education: Proceedings of the 47th Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, 6 - 10 July 2025, Canberra. editor / Sitti Maesuri Patahuddin ; Lorraine Gaunt ; Danielle Harris ; Kristen Tripet. Adelaide, S.A. : Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, 2025. pp. 285-292

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title = "Mind the gap: investigating misaligned mathematics study intentions and perceived capabilities",

abstract = "Strengthening lower secondary students{\textquoteright} attitudes toward mathematics is key to addressing declining enrolments in higher-level courses. This mixed-methods study examined the alignment between students{\textquoteright} perceived mathematics capability and study intentions, as well as demographic and attitudinal differences. Results suggest that students with aligned intentions had more adaptive attitudes than those with an intentions-capability gap. Many who intended to study below their perceived capability cited low utility value, suggesting that enhancing mathematics{\textquoteright} perceived utility could increase higher-level enrolments.",

author = "Erin Mackenzie and Kathryn Holmes and Nathan Berger and Matt Thompson",

year = "2025",

language = "English",

pages = "285--292",

editor = "Patahuddin, \{Sitti Maesuri\} and Lorraine Gaunt and Danielle Harris and Kristen Tripet",

booktitle = "Unlocking Minds in Mathematics Education: Proceedings of the 47th Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, 6 - 10 July 2025, Canberra",

publisher = "Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia",

note = "Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia. Conference, MERGA ; Conference date: 06-07-2025 Through 10-07-2025",

}

Mackenzie, E , Holmes, K , Berger, N & Thompson, M 2025, Mind the gap: investigating misaligned mathematics study intentions and perceived capabilities. in SM Patahuddin, L Gaunt, D Harris & K Tripet (eds), Unlocking Minds in Mathematics Education: Proceedings of the 47th Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, 6 - 10 July 2025, Canberra. Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, Adelaide, S.A., pp. 285-292, Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia. Conference, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia, 6/07/25.

Mind the gap: investigating misaligned mathematics study intentions and perceived capabilities. / Mackenzie, Erin ; Holmes, Kathryn ; Berger, Nathan et al.
Unlocking Minds in Mathematics Education: Proceedings of the 47th Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, 6 - 10 July 2025, Canberra. ed. / Sitti Maesuri Patahuddin; Lorraine Gaunt; Danielle Harris; Kristen Tripet. Adelaide, S.A.: Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, 2025. p. 285-292.

Research output: Chapter in Book / Conference Paper › Conference Paper › peer-review

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AB - Strengthening lower secondary students’ attitudes toward mathematics is key to addressing declining enrolments in higher-level courses. This mixed-methods study examined the alignment between students’ perceived mathematics capability and study intentions, as well as demographic and attitudinal differences. Results suggest that students with aligned intentions had more adaptive attitudes than those with an intentions-capability gap. Many who intended to study below their perceived capability cited low utility value, suggesting that enhancing mathematics’ perceived utility could increase higher-level enrolments.

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Mackenzie E , Holmes K , Berger N , Thompson M. Mind the gap: investigating misaligned mathematics study intentions and perceived capabilities. In Patahuddin SM, Gaunt L, Harris D, Tripet K, editors, Unlocking Minds in Mathematics Education: Proceedings of the 47th Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia, 6 - 10 July 2025, Canberra. Adelaide, S.A.: Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia. 2025. p. 285-292

Mind the gap: investigating misaligned mathematics study intentions and perceived capabilities

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