Abstract

This dissertation study used multinomial logistic and ordinary least squares regression models to investigate to what extent students' mathematical sense of belonging predicted their participation and persistence in their mathematical college and career coursework. Mathematical participation and persistence were operationally defined as courses completed in high school and postsecondary, undergraduate mathematics college and careers credits. Framed on extant research regarding equitable mathematics of education and various learning theories, this study offers mathematics domain-specific statistical analyses of belongingness based on Mahar and colleagues' (2012) five transdisciplinary themes of belongingness. Data from the High School Longitudinal Study 2009 (HSLS:09) were used for analyses. First, an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted to create a mathematical belongingness construct. Then resulting mathematical belongingness subscales, a criterion-referenced mathematics assessment, and demographic variables were analyzed to find statistically significant predictors of students' participation and persistence in the high school mathematics pipeline and in postsecondary undergraduate, mathematics credit hours. Predictors varied in statistical significance within and between the generated models. However, one theme of the transdisciplinary belongingness subscale in the EFA, subjectivity/mathematics identity, was the only affective variable which was statistically significant in each model generated. Interpretations of these results suggest this study be used as support for the field to begin empirically defining and refining conceptions of mathematics-specific belongingness. Implications for research and practice with respect to mathematics identity are shared.

Notes

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Graduation Date

2022

Semester

Summer

Advisor

Bush, Sarah

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

College

College of Community Innovation and Education

Department

School of Teacher Education

Degree Program

Education; Math Education

Identifier

CFE0009199; DP0026795

URL

https://purls.library.ucf.edu/go/DP0026795

Language

English

Release Date

August 2025

Length of Campus-only Access

3 years

Access Status

Doctoral Dissertation (Campus-only Access)

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