Work

Variation in mathematics performance: A multilevel analysis with student and school's characteristics

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Using data from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), this study examines the student and school characteristics that contribute to students’ mathematics performance in early elementary school in Chile. Previous research has separately analyzed the association of student and school factors with mathematics performance. This study uses multilevel modeling analyses to account for those factors together and understand variability within and between schools. The sample in this study was 6,322 fourth grade students from 169 schools. The students’ mean age was 10.07 (SD = 0.50); 49.6% were girls. The results from this study show that student characteristics, such as the home mathematics environment, helped explain the variation between schools more than within schools. These findings highlight the importance of considering contextual factors, such as parent–child math interactions, when developing education policy and intervention to foster students’ mathematics skills.

Source: Journal of Numerical Cognition

DOI: 10.5964/jnc.14087

Authors: Jimena Cosso, Alexa Ellis, Sandra L. Camargo Salamanca, María Inés Susperreguy

Institutions: University of Maryland, College Park, University of Alabama, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Language: English

Topic: School Choice and Performance

Subfield: Education

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Quality education

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4408466708

FWCI: 3.257

Cites: 33

Cited by: 1

Related to: 10