Children who enjoy studying mathematics and take pride in good scores are more likely to have higher academic achievements, say scientists who found that positive emotions and success at learning in math mutually reinforce each other. Scientists found that students' learning and cognitive performance can be influenced by emotional reactions to learning, like enjoyment, anxiety and boredom.
Researchers Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat (LMU) in Munich in Germany studied how students' emotions in a school context relate to their achievement. The study focused on achievement in math, which is not only important for education and economic productivity but is also known to prompt strong emotional reactions in students.
"We found that emotions influenced students' math achievement over the years," said Reinhard Pekrun, professor at LMU Munich and Australian Catholic University.
"Students with higher intelligence had better grades and test scores, but those who also enjoyed and took pride in math had even better achievement," said Pekrun, who led the study.
"Students who experienced anger, anxiety, shame, boredom, or hopelessness had lower achievement," he said.
The research was conducted as part of the Project for the Analysis of Learning and Achievement in Mathematics (PALMA).
Researchers Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat (LMU) in Munich in Germany studied how students' emotions in a school context relate to their achievement. The study focused on achievement in math, which is not only important for education and economic productivity but is also known to prompt strong emotional reactions in students.
"We found that emotions influenced students' math achievement over the years," said Reinhard Pekrun, professor at LMU Munich and Australian Catholic University.
"Students with higher intelligence had better grades and test scores, but those who also enjoyed and took pride in math had even better achievement," said Pekrun, who led the study.
"Students who experienced anger, anxiety, shame, boredom, or hopelessness had lower achievement," he said.
