DEVELOPING SELF-CONFIDENCE AND SELF-EFFICACY IN MATHEMATICS THROUGH THE KUMON METHOD

Abstract

In recent decades, the literature in Mathematics Education has shown that performance in Mathematics is strongly influenced by affective and motivational factors, among which students’ self-confidence and self-efficacy stand out. In the light of Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory (1986, 1997) and empirical studies that show significant correlations between capability beliefs and school achievement in Mathematics, this article discusses how the Kumon methodology can foster the development of self-confidence and self-efficacy in the subject. First, it presents concepts and dimensions of self-confidence in the educational context, distinguishing it from related constructs such as self-concept and self-esteem, based on Faria, Souza and Faria (2016), Hazin, Frade and Falcão (2010) and Meza-Cascante, Agüero-Calvo and Suárez-Valdés-Ayala (2019). Next, it discusses the theoretical bases of self-efficacy and Bandura’s contributions (1986, 1997), articulating them with studies on mathematics self-efficacy, such as Brito and Souza (2015), Dobarro and Brito (2010) and Souza (2008). The relationship between self-confidence, self-efficacy and performance in Mathematics is also analysed, with emphasis on research by Pajares (1996), Pajares and Miller (1994) and other recent reviews. Subsequently, the principles, material organization and study routine of the Kumon methodology are described, based on institutional documents and on Orcos et al. (2019), and studies are discussed that indicate positive impacts of the method on Mathematics performance, such as Wu (1995), Medina (1989), Begum, Bukhari and Akbar (2018, 2019) and Sulasteri, Balle and Abreu (2020). It is concluded that the structured environment of graded practice, focus on autonomy and emphasis on mastery experiences, which are characteristic of Kumon, may constitute a privileged context to strengthen self-confidence and mathematical self-efficacy, although further longitudinal investigations with an explicit focus on these variables are still needed.