Motivation And Learning Strategies Of The Underachievers In High School:Cluster Analysis In Mathematics Classrooms

At the turn of the late 19 th and early 20 th centuries, the concept of Instinct made the word motive that was introduced into psychology. then the relevant study enriched the theory of motivation, including hierarchy of needs theory, expected value theory, achievement goal theory, etc. The system research of learning strategies was in the 1950 s. "learning strategies " which were put forward formally began with Simon etc(1958), who carried out computer simulation studies. On this basis, the “learning strategies” came into people’s horizons. In the view of the learning motivation and learning strategies, both domestic and foreign scholars launched a number of studies. Studies have shown that learning motivation, learning strategies can predict academic performance. But most of the past research centered on variables, which was on the basis of individual homogeneity assumption, ignoring the differences between individuals.This study adopts the method centering on the individual. Mathematics underachievers in the high school are the main research objects. In order to determine classification index, the analysis of reliability and validity are made for the revised mathematics learning motivation questionnaire and the translated mathematics learning strategies questionnaire. Then we make cluster analysis for the underachievers.Research conclusions are as follows:(1)In the mathematics learning motivation questionnaire, the cognitive drive, self-enhancement drive and auxiliary drive, self-efficacy, willpower can be used as an classification indexes. In the mathematics learning strategies questionnaire,the cognitive strategy, meta-cognitive strategy and resource management strategy can be used as an classification indexes.(2)The mathematics eugenic learning motivation, learning strategies are significantly higher than the mathematics underachiever.(3)All of the mathematics underachievers are lack of learning motivation,but part of the them can use learning strategies very well.(4)Based On the total scores of mathematics underachievers learning motivation, learning strategies,they can be divided into three categories: Category 1(15.7%) : high motivation- high strategies type; Category 2(41.3%) : high motive- low strategies type; Category 3(43.0%) : low motivation- low strategies type.(5)Clustering of the mathematics underachievers’ learning motivation, they can be divided into four categories: Category 1(41.0%) : extrinsic motivation- attachment type; Category 2(34.2%) :extrinsic motivation-willpower type; Category3(17.1%):internal and external mixing motivation- willpower type; Category 4(7.7%) : intrinsic motivation – confidence type.(6)Clustering of the mathematics underachievers’ learning strategies, they can be divided into three categories:Category1(54.4%): low strategies type; Category 2(29.3%) : resource management type; Category 3(16.2%) : high strategies type.