Combining cognitive and affective factors related to mathematical achievement in 4th graders: A psychological network analysis study

Background

Development of mathematics is a complex and multidimensional process with many different interacting predictors. This study examined the relations between math achievement and related demographic, domain-general and domain-specific cognitive, and affective variables by using a network approach.

Methods

Data were gathered from 201 Dutch fourth grade children. A psychological network analysis was used to examine how cognitive variables (i.e. symbolic comparison, non-symbolic comparison, ordering, shifting, inhibition, verbal and visuospatial updating, fluid reasoning), affective variables (i.e. math anxiety and math self-concept), and demographic variables (i.e. SES, age, and gender) are interrelated with arithmetic fluency and mathematical achievement.

Results

The network showed three subclusters, with domain-specific cognitive and affective factors relating to arithmetic fluency and math achievement. Domain-general and demographic factors were not related to math achievement.

Conclusion

Network analysis can enhance our understanding of factors relating to mathematical achievement in children, potentially leading to more personalized approaches to math interventions.