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Perceived Parental Influence on Mathematics Learning: A Comparison Among Students in China and Australia

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  • Published: 04 May 2006
  • Volume 64, pages 85–106, (2007)
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Perceived Parental Influence on Mathematics Learning: A Comparison Among Students in China and Australia
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  • Zhongjun Cao1,
  • Alan Bishop2 &
  • Helen Forgasz2 
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  • 27 Citations

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Abstract

This paper explores the perceived parental influence (PPI) on mathematics learning among over 700 students across three year levels (Years 5, 7, 9) in China and Australia. It was found that the PPI of students was less strong as year levels increased in both countries. Students in China had stronger perceived parental encouragement and higher perceived parental educational expectation than students in Australia. The PPI of students from different home language backgrounds was also investigated. Students in China demonstrated stronger perceived parental encouragement and parental expectation than English speaking students and other language speaking students in Australia, and they also demonstrated stronger perceived parental expectation than Chinese speaking students in Australia, and similar perceived parental encouragement. Within the three groups of students in Australia, Chinese speaking students and other language speaking students demonstrated similar levels of perceived parental encouragement and expectation, but they both demonstrated a higher level of perceived parental encouragement and expectation than English speaking students. Possible reasons for the similarities and differences between the different groups of students were discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Postcompulsory Education Center, Victoria University, Footscray Park, VIC, 3011, Australia

    Zhongjun Cao

  2. Faculty of Education, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia

    Alan Bishop & Helen Forgasz

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  1. Zhongjun Cao
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  2. Alan Bishop
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  3. Helen Forgasz
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Correspondence to Zhongjun Cao.

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Open Access This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0 ), which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited.

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Cao, Z., Bishop, A. & Forgasz, H. Perceived Parental Influence on Mathematics Learning: A Comparison Among Students in China and Australia. Educ Stud Math 64, 85–106 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10649-006-9033-5

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  • Received: 28 January 2005

  • Accepted: 04 March 2006

  • Published: 04 May 2006

  • Issue Date: January 2007

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10649-006-9033-5

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Key words

  • perceived parental influence
  • mathematics learning
  • expectation
  • encouragement
  • cultural groups
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