A comparative analysis of the relationship among quality instruction, teacher self-efficacy, student background, and mathematics achievement in South Korea and the United States

Periodical
EURASIA Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education
Volume
12
Year
2016
Issue number
7
Page range
1755-1779
Relates to study/studies
TIMSS 2011

A comparative analysis of the relationship among quality instruction, teacher self-efficacy, student background, and mathematics achievement in South Korea and the United States

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to compare and contrast student, teacher, and school factors that are associated with student mathematics achievement in South Korea and the United States. Using the data from the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2011, this study examines factors that are linked to teachers who deliver quality instruction with high self-efficacy in both countries. We also investigate the association between teachers with high-quality instruction and high self-efficacy and 8th graders' mathematics achievement. It was found that teachers' perceived academic emphasis was commonly associated with teachers who claimed to provide high-quality mathematics instruction with high self-efficacy. However, the two countries' results differed in the association between teachers' opportunities to learn in professional development programs and high-quality instruction with high self-efficacy. Implications from this study suggest that the quality and training of teachers and students' gender gap in achievement are significant issues.