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Causal attributions for success and failure in mathematics: A cross cultural perspective

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Abstract

In this study the attributional patterns for success and failure in mathematics of students in Papua New Guinea are compared with those of students in Australia. The sample comprised 491 grade 10 students: 169 girls and 322 boys. While relatively few differences were found in the attributional patterns of boys and girls and of high and low achieving students, there appeared to be substantial differences between students in the two countries in their attributions for success and failure in mathematics. Possible reasons for this are explored in the paper.

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Clarkson, P., Leder, G.C. Causal attributions for success and failure in mathematics: A cross cultural perspective. Educ Stud Math 15, 413–422 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00311115

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