UNDERSTANDING EMOTIONS IN MATHEMATICAL THINKING AND LEARNING www.com This page intentionally left blank www.com UNDERSTANDING EMOTIONS IN MATHEMATICAL THINKING AND LEARNING Ulises Xolocotzin Eligio www.com Academic Press is an imprint of Elsevier 125 London Wall, London EC2Y 5AS, United Kingdom 525 B Street, Suite 1800, San Diego, CA 92101-4495, United States 50 Hampshire Street, 5th Floor, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford OX5 1GB, United Kingdom © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Details on how to seek permission, further information about the Publisher’s permissions policies and our arrangements with organizations such as the Copyright Clearance Center and the Copyright Licensing Agency, can be found at our website: www.
This book and the individual contributions contained in it are protected under copyright by the Publisher (other than as may be noted herein). Notices Knowledge and best practice in this field are constantly changing. As new research and experience broaden our understanding, changes in research methods, professional practices, or medical treatment may become necessary. Practitioners and researchers must always rely on their own experience and knowledge in evaluating and using any information, methods, compounds, or experiments described herein.
In using such information or methods they should be mindful of their own safety and the safety of others, including parties for whom they have a professional responsibility. To the fullest extent of the law, neither the Publisher nor the authors, contributors, or editors, assume any liability for any injury and/or damage to persons or property as a matter of products liability, negligence or otherwise, or from any use or operation of any methods, products, instructions, or ideas contained in the material herein. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library ISBN: 978-0-12-802218-4 For information on all Academic Press publications visit our website at https://www.com/books-and-journals Publisher: Nikki Levy Acquisition Editor: Emily Ekle Editorial Project Manager: Barbara Makinster Production Project Manager: Punithavathy Govindaradjane Cover Designer: Matthew Limbert Typeset by SPi Global, India www.com Contents Contributors xi Preface xiii I INTRODUCTION: AN OVERVIEW OF THE FIELD 1.╇ An Overview of the Growth and Trends of Current Research on Emotions and Mathematics ULISES XOLOCOTZIN ELIGIO Introduction 3 Method 7 Results 9 Conclusions 19 Appendix A Articles Reviewed and Their Classifications by Year Period, Research Context, and Research Trend 21 References 35 2.╇ Appraising Emotion in Mathematical Knowledge: Reflections on Methodology INÉS M. GÓMEZ-CHACÓN Introduction 43 Systemic Approach to the Study of Emotions 45 Study of Emotional Experience: A Holistic Approach 47 Methodological Considerations in the Interrelationships Between Cognition and Affect in Mathematics 48 The Local Dimension of Emotion 51 The Global Dimension of Emotion 57 Conclusive Issues 63 Epilog: Open Questions and Unresolved Issues 65 Appendix Classroom Session 66 Acknowledgments 70 References 70 v www.com vi CONTENTS II COGNITION AND EMOTION IN MATHEMATICAL ACTIVITY 3.╇ Being in Control ALEXANDRE BOROVIK Naming Infinity 77 Quest for Control 78 Caveats and Disclaimers 82 Taming Mathematical Entities 85 Nomination 86 Names as Spells 89 Some Conjectures 91 Children and Infinity 92 Edge of the Abyss 93 Conclusions 95 Acknowledgments 96 References 96 4.╇ Epistemic States of Convincement.
A Conceptualization from the Practice of Mathematicians and Neurobiology MIRELA RIGO-LEMINI, BENJAMÍN MARTÍNEZ-NAVARRO States of Convincement in the Professional Practice of Mathematics 98 Epistemic States as Emotions and Feelings 110 References 129 5.╇ The Impact of Anxiety and Working Memory on Algebraic Reasoning KELLY TREZISE, ROBERT A. REEVE Introduction 133 Examination of MA, WM, and Algebra Relationships in Three Studies 138 Examination of WM, Worry, and Algebra Relationships in Three Studies 142 Discussion 149 References 152 www.com CONTENTS vii III EMOTIONS IN THE LEARNING AND TEACHING OF MATHEMATICS IIIA LEARNERS IN DIFFERENT EDUCATIONAL LEVELS 6.╇ Students’ Emotional Experiences Learning Mathematics in Canadian Schools JO TOWERS, MIWA A. TAKEUCHI, JENNIFER HALL, LYNDON C. MARTIN Introduction 163 Review of the Literature 164 Theoretical Framework 166 Research Design 167 Findings 169 Discussion and Implications 179 Conclusion 183 References 184 7.╇ "I Did Use to Like Maths…": Emotional Changes Toward Mathematics During Secondary School Education PAUL HERNANDEZ-MARTINEZ, MARIA PAMPAKA Introduction 187 Review of Relevant Literature and Theoretical Approach 188 Methodology 193 Results 198 Discussion and Conclusions 215 Acknowledgments 218 References 218 Further Reading 220 8.╇ When Being Good at Math Is Not Enough: How Students’ Beliefs About the Nature of Mathematics Impact Decisions to Pursue Optional Math Education MICHELLE HURST, SARA CORDES Introduction 221 Math Beliefs: Negative Myths Impacting Achievement 224 Math Beliefs: Positively Impacting Children’s Beliefs 230 www.com viii CONTENTS Case Study: The Underrepresentation of Women in Math 233 Moving Forward 235 Conclusion 237 References 237 IIIB LEARNERS WITH MATHEMATICAL DIFFICULTIES 9.╇ Special Needs in Mathematics Classrooms: Relationships With Others MELISSA RODD Whose Needs Are "Special"? 245 Orientation to Psychoanalysis and Special Needs in Maths Classrooms 248 Theoretical Frame: Winnicott’s "Facilitating Environment": An Environment of Relationships 250 Application: To Special Learners of Mathematics 252 In Teaching Practice 258 Discussion and Critique 264 Acknowledgments 266 References 266 Further Reading 267 10.╇ The Construct of Mathematical Resilience CLARE LEE, SUE JOHNSTON-WILDER Introduction 269 The Need for Mathematical Resilience 270 Mathematical Resilience 273 Relating Mathematical Resilience to Other Constructs 280 Teaching for Mathematical Resilience 286 Coaching for Mathematical Resilience 286 Conclusions 287 References 288 Further Reading 291 IIIC LEARNERS OUT OF THE SCHOOL 11.╇ The Emotions Experienced While Learning Mathematics at Home JANET GOODALL, SUE JOHNSTON-WILDER, ROSEMARY RUSSELL Introduction 295 Education vs Schooling 296 www.com CONTENTS ix Experiences at Home 301 Transformation 305 The Everyday Maths Project 308 The Way Forward 309 References 310 12.╇ Parents’ and Children’s Mathematics Anxiety SOPHIE BATCHELOR, CAMILLA GILMORE, MATTHEW INGLIS An Overview of Mathematics Anxiety Research 315 Where Does Childhood Anxiety Come From? 318 Do Parental Influences Play a Role in the Development of Mathematics Anxiety? 322 An Investigation of Parents’ and Children’s Mathematics Anxiety 324 General Discussion: Key Findings and Emerging Questions 329 References 331 IIID MATHEMATICS TEACHERS 13.╇ "I Hate Maths": Changing Primary School Teachers’ Relationship With Mathematics MIKE ASKEW, HAMSA VENKAT The Dichotomies: Some Literature and Theory 340 The IHM Workshops: Emotions at the Heart of Principles and Practices 346 Teachers’ Responses to the WMC-P Professional Development 349 Concluding Comments 352 References 353 14.╇ Using Students’ Emotional Experiences to Guide Task Design in Mathematics Content Courses KELLI M.
IVES Background Literature 356 Conceptual Framework 360 Methodology 361 Findings 365 Discussion 368 Appendix: NVivo Coding Query for "Consistently Frustrated vs. Personal Goals" 370 References 373 www.com x CONTENTS IV THEORETICAL ADVANCES 15.╇ Digging Beneath Dual Systems Theory and the Bicameral Brain: Abductions About the Human Psyche From Experience in Mathematical Problem Solving JOHN MASON, MARTINA METZ Introduction 379 Phenomena 382 Theoretical Frame 384 The Goldfish Problem 393 Lessons Learned: Informing Future Action 403 References 404 Further Reading 407 16.╇ On the Irreducibility of Acting, Emoting, and Thinking: A Societal-Historical Approach to Affect in Mathematical Activity WOLFF-MICHAEL ROTH, MARGARET WALSHAW Background 410 Affect: A Societal-Historical, Pragmatic Approach 412 Affect: A Reflection (Measure) of the Person-Environment Unit 413 Experience [Pereživanie]: Category and Unit of Analysis 415 Affect in an Elementary Mathematics Classroom 416 Introduction: Ethnographic and Analytic Background 416 A Case Study of Affect in a Mathematics Lesson 421 Case Discussion 425 General Discussion 426 References 429 Further Reading 431 17.╇ Emotional Orientations and Somatic Markers: Expertise and Decision Making in the Mathematics Classroom DAVID REID, LAURINDA BROWN, TRACY HELLIWELL Introduction 433 Mr. Hatt—Which One’s The Best? 434 Ms. Hutt—Changing Schools 442 Conclusions 448 References 449 Index 451 www.com Contributors Mike Askewâ•… University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia Sophie Batchelorâ•… Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom Alexandre Borovikâ•… University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom Laurinda Brownâ•… University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom Sara Cordesâ•… Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States Camilla Gilmoreâ•… Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom Inés M.
Gómez-Chacónâ•… Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain Janet Goodallâ•… University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom Jennifer Hallâ•… Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia Tracy Helliwellâ•… University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom Paul Hernandez-Martinezâ•… Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom Michelle Hurstâ•… Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, United States Matthew Inglisâ•… Loughborough University, Loughborough, United Kingdom Sarah E. Ivesâ•… California State University, Sacramento, CA, United States Sue Johnston-Wilderâ•… University of Warwick, Coventry, United kingdom Clare Leeâ•… The Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom Lyndon C. Martinâ•… York University, Toronto, ON, Canada Benjamín Martínez-Navarroâ•… The Center for Research and Advanced Studies of Mexico's National Poly-technical Institute, Mexico City, Mexico John Masonâ•… University of Oxford, Oxford; Open University, Milton Keynes, United Kingdom Martina Metzâ•… University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada Maria Pampakaâ•… The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom Robert A. Reeveâ•… University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia David Reidâ•… University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany Mirela Rigo-Leminiâ•… The Center for Research and Advanced Studies of Mexico's National Poly-technical Institute, Mexico City, Mexico Melissa Roddâ•… UCL Institute of Education, London, United Kingdom Wolff-Michael Rothâ•… University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada Rosemary Russellâ•… AR & RR Education Ltd, Poole, United Kingdom Kelli M.
Slatenâ•… Georgia Gwinnett College, Lawrenceville, GA, United States xi www.com xii CONTRIBUTORS Miwa A. Takeuchiâ•… University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada Jo Towersâ•… University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada Kelly Treziseâ•… University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia Hamsa Venkatâ•… University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa Margaret Walshawâ•… Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand Ulises Xolocotzin Eligioâ•…Centre for Research and Advanced Studies, Mexico City, Mexico www.com Preface Ask yourself and the people around you: how do you feel about mathematics? You will find that the question makes sense. It is only nat- ural to invoke a diverse range of emotions in describing our relationship with mathematics. Doing mathematics is clearly an activity that is rich in emotional experiences.
And yet, it is rather difficult to explain what the nature and implications of such experiences are. Scholars studying mathematical thinking and learning have traditionally concentrated on cognitive, social, cultural, developmental, technological, and neural factors. It is only fairly recently that they have turned to the study of emotions. During the last 20 years, research that investigates the ways in which emotions relate to mathematics has expanded rapidly in number, breadth, and depth.
Researchers are delivering insights about the ways in which individuals’ emotions influence, and are influenced by, the individual and environmental factors involved in using, learning, teaching, and inves- tigating mathematics. These findings are presented in academic events, discussed in book chapters, and reported in academic journals. However, to date no edited book has been published that focuses specifically on the emotional aspects of mathematics. This volume collects contributions that advance our current under- standing of the links between emotions and mathematics.
This topic is relevant across disciplines, but opportunities for researchers to become aware of the work done in fields other than their own are lacking and much needed. This book includes contributions from an international group that includes young researchers and leading figures from disci- plines such as mathematics education, psychology, and mathematics. The reader will be able to appreciate the theoretical and methodological diver- sity that is applied across disciplines. Understanding Emotions in Mathematical Thinking and Learning will be of interest for researchers, graduate students, and teachers.
The assem- bled chapters present information on the current state of the field, novel research trends, innovative takes on established research lines (e., math- ematics anxiety), and emergent theoretical views. The chapters are organized into four sections. The first presents an overview of the field. The reader will find a review that describes the ori- gins and development of the research trends that drive the current litera- ture (Chapter 1), and the proposal of a holistic approach that integrates a xiii www.