Conference Proceedings
Associations between the ontogenesis of confidence and inclination to explore unfamiliar mathematical problems
G Williams
Proceedings of the 37th Conference of the International Group for the Psychology of Mathematics Education, Vol. 4 | IPN, Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education | Published : 2013
Abstract
This video-stimulated post-lesson interview study of students displaying confidence in mathematics examines the nature of confidence theoretically by linking it to Seligman’s (1995) indicators of optimism. It also explores the activity of confident students empirically; examining their inclination to explore unfamiliar challenging mathematics problems. Findings include associations between student inclination to explore challenging mathematics problems, and the ontogenesis of their confidence. These findings have implications for the teaching of mathematics: ‘a transmissive teaching approach’ was associated with an absence of the inclination to explore.