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Math homework purpose scale for preadolescents: a psychometric evaluation

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Abstract

The current study validated the Math Homework Purpose Scale (MHPS) for preadolescents. Having randomly split participants into two subsamples, we conducted exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on subsample 1 (n = 293) and subsample 2 (n = 292), respectively. Both EFA and CFA indicated that the MHPS consisted of three factors: Academic, Self-regulatory, and Approval-seeking Reasons. Given an adequate level of measurement invariance, we further examined the latent mean difference across gender. Results revealed no statistically significant mean differences in Academic, Self-regulatory, and Approval-seeking Reasons across gender. Finally, consistent with theoretical expectations, Academic and self-regulatory Reasons were positively correlated with homework effort, homework completion, and math achievement.

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The authors received no financial support for this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. East China Normal University, Shanghai, China

    Meilu Sun

  2. University of Macau, Macau, China

    Jianxia Du

  3. Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Foundations, Mississippi State University, P.O. Box 9727, Mississippi State, MS, 39762, USA

    Jianzhong Xu

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  1. Meilu Sun
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Correspondence to Jianzhong Xu.

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All procedures were conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and national research committee, and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Sun, M., Du, J. & Xu, J. Math homework purpose scale for preadolescents: a psychometric evaluation. Curr Psychol 39, 1740–1748 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-018-9870-2

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