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Mathematics Work Ethic Mediates Effects of Anxiety and Instrumental Motivation on Science Literacy

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Title: Mathematics Work Ethic Mediates Effects of Anxiety and Instrumental Motivation on Science Literacy
Language: English
Authors: Jonah Mutua (ORCID 0000-0002-4791-792X)
Source: International Journal of Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology. 2026 14(2):437-456.
Availability: International Journal of Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology. Necmettin Erbakan University, Ahmet Kelesoglu Education Faculty, Meram, Konya, 42090, Turkey. e-mail: ijermst@gmail.com; Web site: https://www.ijemst.net/index.php/ijemst/index
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 20
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Descriptors: Mathematics Anxiety, Scientific Literacy, Gender Differences, Socioeconomic Status, Work Ethic, Mathematics Education, Student Motivation, Predictor Variables, Secondary School Students, Foreign Countries
Geographic Terms: Australia
Assessment and Survey Identifiers: Program for International Student Assessment
ISSN: 2147-611X
Abstract: Previous research has examined instrumental motivation to learn mathematics (IM) and mathematics anxiety (MA) as predictors of students' scientific literacy. A major aim of this study was to examine mathematics work ethic (MWE) as a mediating factor. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), the year 2012 data of 4,500 high school students from Australia. We constructed three SEM models. The first model concerned the entire sample; the second and third models used multi-group SEM to examine gender and socioeconomic status (SES) as moderating factors. The results indicated a positive relationship between MWE and scientific literacy, which acted as a mediator between the negative impact of MA and the positive effect of IM on scientific literacy. Indirect effects were significant for females, not males. Work ethic was significant for females, not males. Instrumental motivation was significant for high SES, not low. Findings help integrate the construct of work ethics within theory and research on academic anxiety and motivation. We discuss the practical implications.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1506040
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Mathematics Work Ethic Mediates Effects of Anxiety and Instrumental Motivation on Science Literacy
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jonah+Mutua%22">Jonah Mutua</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4791-792X">0000-0002-4791-792X</externalLink>)
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  Data: International Journal of Education in Mathematics, Science and Technology. Necmettin Erbakan University, Ahmet Kelesoglu Education Faculty, Meram, Konya, 42090, Turkey. e-mail: ijermst@gmail.com; Web site: https://www.ijemst.net/index.php/ijemst/index
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mathematics+Anxiety%22">Mathematics Anxiety</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Scientific+Literacy%22">Scientific Literacy</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Gender+Differences%22">Gender Differences</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Socioeconomic+Status%22">Socioeconomic Status</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Work+Ethic%22">Work Ethic</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mathematics+Education%22">Mathematics Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Motivation%22">Student Motivation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Predictor+Variables%22">Predictor Variables</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Secondary+School+Students%22">Secondary School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink>
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  Data: Previous research has examined instrumental motivation to learn mathematics (IM) and mathematics anxiety (MA) as predictors of students' scientific literacy. A major aim of this study was to examine mathematics work ethic (MWE) as a mediating factor. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to analyze the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), the year 2012 data of 4,500 high school students from Australia. We constructed three SEM models. The first model concerned the entire sample; the second and third models used multi-group SEM to examine gender and socioeconomic status (SES) as moderating factors. The results indicated a positive relationship between MWE and scientific literacy, which acted as a mediator between the negative impact of MA and the positive effect of IM on scientific literacy. Indirect effects were significant for females, not males. Work ethic was significant for females, not males. Instrumental motivation was significant for high SES, not low. Findings help integrate the construct of work ethics within theory and research on academic anxiety and motivation. We discuss the practical implications.
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  Data: 2026
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        PageCount: 20
        StartPage: 437
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      – SubjectFull: Mathematics Anxiety
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Scientific Literacy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Gender Differences
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Socioeconomic Status
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      – SubjectFull: Work Ethic
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      – SubjectFull: Mathematics Education
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      – SubjectFull: Student Motivation
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      – SubjectFull: Predictor Variables
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      – SubjectFull: Secondary School Students
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      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
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      – SubjectFull: Australia
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      – SubjectFull: Program for International Student Assessment
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