Does Individual Interest Still Predict Achievement in Science and Technology When Controlling for Self-Concept? A Longitudinal Study Conducted in Canadian Schools

Patrice Potvin; Abdelkrim Hasni; Jean-Philippe Ayotte-Beaudet; Ousmane Sy

doi:10.29333/ejmste/8938

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Patrice Potvin ¹ ^* , Abdelkrim Hasni ² , Jean-Philippe Ayotte-Beaudet ² , Ousmane Sy ³

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¹ University of Quebec in Montreal, CANADA² University of Sherbrooke, CANADA³ University of Quebec at Trois-Rivières, CANADA^* Corresponding Author

Abstract

This cross-lagged longitudinal study was conducted with 862 seventh and eighth graders (secondary school) in the province of Québec (Canada) to study the effects of two important perceptual variables (self-concept and individual interest) on achievement, as well as reciprocal relations between all these constructs. Considering the results obtained previously in mathematics education, it was designed to test if the same inter-variable dynamics could be recorded in science and technology. The data was gathered at 10 time points (four perceptual; six report cards [school reports]) and analyzed using Mplus. Most fit indexes were acceptable and revealed a predictive solution that supports the hypothesis that interest does not appear to play any direct role in achievement, but that self-concept does. Recommendations for research that tests individual interest are formulated as well as suggestions for educational practice.

Keywords

achievement
interest
longitudinal
science and technology
self-concept

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This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed, 2020, Volume 16, Issue 12, Article No: em1904

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/8938

Publication date: 21 Oct 2020

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How to cite this article

APA

Potvin, P., Hasni, A., Ayotte-Beaudet, J.-P., & Sy, O. (2020). Does Individual Interest Still Predict Achievement in Science and Technology When Controlling for Self-Concept? A Longitudinal Study Conducted in Canadian Schools. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 16(12), em1904. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/8938

Vancouver

Potvin P, Hasni A, Ayotte-Beaudet JP, Sy O. Does Individual Interest Still Predict Achievement in Science and Technology When Controlling for Self-Concept? A Longitudinal Study Conducted in Canadian Schools. EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed. 2020;16(12):em1904. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/8938

AMA

Potvin P, Hasni A, Ayotte-Beaudet JP, Sy O. Does Individual Interest Still Predict Achievement in Science and Technology When Controlling for Self-Concept? A Longitudinal Study Conducted in Canadian Schools. EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed. 2020;16(12), em1904. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/8938

Chicago

Potvin, Patrice, Abdelkrim Hasni, Jean-Philippe Ayotte-Beaudet, and Ousmane Sy. "Does Individual Interest Still Predict Achievement in Science and Technology When Controlling for Self-Concept? A Longitudinal Study Conducted in Canadian Schools". Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education 2020 16 no. 12 (2020): em1904. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/8938

Harvard

Potvin, P., Hasni, A., Ayotte-Beaudet, J.-P., and Sy, O. (2020). Does Individual Interest Still Predict Achievement in Science and Technology When Controlling for Self-Concept? A Longitudinal Study Conducted in Canadian Schools. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 16(12), em1904. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/8938

MLA

Potvin, Patrice et al. "Does Individual Interest Still Predict Achievement in Science and Technology When Controlling for Self-Concept? A Longitudinal Study Conducted in Canadian Schools". Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, vol. 16, no. 12, 2020, em1904. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/8938