The effect of a pre-university mathematics bridging course on adult learners' self-efficacy and retention rates in STEM subjects

In August 2008, the Mathematics Learning Centre at the University of Limerick initiated a mathematics bridging course, entitled 'Head Start Maths', to provide mathematics revision for adult learners about to embark on science or technology degree programmes. The aim of Head Start Maths was...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Irish educational studies Vol. 35; no. 3; pp. 233 - 248
Main Authors: Johnson, Patrick, O'Keeffe, Lisa
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Routledge 02.07.2016
Subjects:
adult learners
Adult Students
College Students
Diagnostic Tests
Dropout Rate
Foreign Countries
Mathematics Anxiety
mathematics bridging programme
Mathematics Education
Program Effectiveness
Questionnaires
retention
School Holding Power
Self Efficacy
STEM
STEM Education
Transitional Programs
Ireland
ISSN:0332-3315, 1747-4965
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Abstract In August 2008, the Mathematics Learning Centre at the University of Limerick initiated a mathematics bridging course, entitled 'Head Start Maths', to provide mathematics revision for adult learners about to embark on science or technology degree programmes. The aim of Head Start Maths was to revise mathematics fundamentals before the commencement of third-level education so as to lessen the anxiety levels of adult learners towards mathematics. Negative preconceptions have been noted as being of major concern with adult learners, both preconceptions of mathematics in general and also of their own abilities. In addition to this, it was hoped that Head Start Maths might lead to increased retention rates among adult learners and lead to less dropouts within the first semester. Results found that there were statistically significant increases in self-efficacy scores across some, but not all, of the mathematical topic areas and that there was an increase in the retention rates of adult learners who participated in Head Start Maths compared to those who did not.
AbstractList In August 2008, the Mathematics Learning Centre at the University of Limerick initiated a mathematics bridging course, entitled "Head Start Maths", to provide mathematics revision for adult learners about to embark on science or technology degree programmes. The aim of Head Start Maths was to revise mathematics fundamentals before the commencement of third-level education so as to lessen the anxiety levels of adult learners towards mathematics. Negative preconceptions have been noted as being of major concern with adult learners, both preconceptions of mathematics in general and also of their own abilities. In addition to this, it was hoped that Head Start Maths might lead to increased retention rates among adult learners and lead to less dropouts within the first semester. Results found that there were statistically significant increases in self-efficacy scores across some, but not all, of the mathematical topic areas and that there was an increase in the retention rates of adult learners who participated in Head Start Maths compared to those who did not.
Audience Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Adult Education
Author Johnson, Patrick
O'Keeffe, Lisa
Author_xml – sequence: 1
  givenname: Patrick
  surname: Johnson
  fullname: Johnson, Patrick
  email: patrick.johnson@ul.ie
  organization: Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Limerick
– sequence: 2
  givenname: Lisa
  surname: O'Keeffe
  fullname: O'Keeffe, Lisa
  organization: School of Education, University of South Australia
BackLink http://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/detail?accno=EJ1126426$$DView record in ERIC
BookMark eNqFkD9v2zAQxYnCAeok_QgBuHWSwz-iRKFLgsBpErjIEHcWKPKY0JAp40g38NaPHglOO2Rol7vh3u_d3TslszhEIOSCswVnml0yKYWUXC0E49WC80aUmn8ic16XdVE2lZqR-aQpJtFncprShjGpay7n5Pf6BSh4DzbTwVNDdwjFPoZfgCnkA92a_AJjCTbRDoN7DvGZ2mGPCegQqXH7PtMeDMYR-EoT9L4Y7YI19kBNdBQhQ8xh1KLJkGiI9Gm9_EHTvtuMS9M5OfGmT_DlvZ-Rn7fL9c1dsXr8fn9zvSrseHkuNFe29FZ5x7WAWrOyElobVTbClVWnpHW1E75zUDVCCsd402ljlWoAOgEgz8jF0Rcw2HaHYWvw0C4fOBdVKapxro5zi0NKCP6vhrN2irn9E3M7xdy-xzxy3z5wNmQzPZzRhP6_9NWRDtEPuDWvA_auzebQD-jRRBtSK_9t8QZFuJjM
CitedBy_id crossref_primary_10_1177_0741713619896324
crossref_primary_10_58507_001c_92400
crossref_primary_10_1080_2331186X_2024_2375168
crossref_primary_10_1080_02601370_2025_2459950
crossref_primary_10_1080_0020739X_2023_2179950
crossref_primary_10_1080_0020739X_2024_2422826
crossref_primary_10_1080_08832323_2024_2404616
crossref_primary_10_1007_s10649_024_10332_6
crossref_primary_10_1080_0020739X_2020_1868589
Cites_doi 10.1006/ceps.1998.0991
10.1023/A:1018755201899
10.1093/teamat/hrq002
10.1080/00219266.2002.9655805
10.1080/00220973.1997.9943455
10.1007/BF00386200
10.1080/02660830.1994.11730608
10.2307/749455
10.1111/j.1365-2929.2004.02012.x
10.3102/00346543066004543
10.1080/00207340412317040
10.1037/0022-0167.42.2.190
10.11120/ened.2008.03010044
10.1080/0141192990250105
10.1007/978-94-017-1199-9_4
10.1037/0022-0663.86.2.193
10.1037/h0033456
10.1177/0270467603256090
10.1080/00207390902914130
10.2307/749515
10.1002/he.325
10.1080/00223980.2011.557749
10.1080/00207390802542395
ContentType Journal Article
Copyright 2016 Educational Studies Association of Ireland 2016
Copyright_xml – notice: 2016 Educational Studies Association of Ireland 2016
DBID AAYXX
CITATION
7SW
BJH
BNH
BNI
BNJ
BNO
ERI
PET
REK
WWN
DOI 10.1080/03323315.2016.1192481
DatabaseName CrossRef
ERIC
ERIC (Ovid)
ERIC
ERIC
ERIC (Legacy Platform)
ERIC( SilverPlatter )
ERIC
ERIC PlusText (Legacy Platform)
Education Resources Information Center (ERIC)
ERIC
DatabaseTitle CrossRef
ERIC
DatabaseTitleList ERIC
DeliveryMethod fulltext_linktorsrc
Discipline Education
EISSN 1747-4965
ERIC EJ1126426
EndPage 248
ExternalDocumentID EJ1126426
10_1080_03323315_2016_1192481
1192481
Genre Article
GeographicLocations Ireland
GeographicLocations_xml – name: Ireland
GroupedDBID -W8
.7I
.GO
.QK
0BK
0R~
29J
2DF
4.4
5GY
5VS
AAGDL
AAGZJ
AAHIA
AAHSB
AAMFJ
AAMIU
AAPUL
AATTQ
AAZJI
AAZMC
ABCCY
ABFIM
ABJNI
ABLIJ
ABPEM
ABTAI
ABXUL
ABXYU
ABZLS
ACGFO
ACGFS
ACHQT
ACTIO
ACTOA
ADAHI
ADCVX
ADKVQ
ADLRE
ADMHG
ADXPE
AECIN
AEFOU
AEGXH
AEISY
AEKEX
AEOZL
AEPSL
AEYOC
AEZRU
AFRVT
AGDLA
AGMYJ
AGRBW
AHDZW
AIAGR
AIJEM
AIYEW
AJWEG
AKBVH
ALMA_UNASSIGNED_HOLDINGS
ALQZU
AQTUD
AVBZW
AWYRJ
BEJHT
BLEHA
BMOTO
BOHLJ
CCCUG
CQ1
CS3
DGFLZ
DKSSO
DU5
EBS
EDJ
EJD
E~B
E~C
G-F
GTTXZ
H13
HF~
HZ~
IPNFZ
J.O
KYCEM
M4Z
NA5
NX.
O9-
P2P
PQQKQ
RIG
RNANH
ROSJB
RSYQP
S-F
STATR
TASJS
TBQAZ
TDBHL
TED
TFH
TFL
TFW
TNTFI
TRJHH
TUROJ
UT5
UT9
VAE
XKC
~01
~S~
AAYXX
CITATION
07N
1TA
7SW
AAELO
AAMUQ
ABIFC
ABOPQ
ABZJQ
ACDYK
ACMAZ
ADQZN
AEHJO
AFNSQ
AFPIY
AFYVU
AGDNC
AJQZJ
AKCKI
AKIDU
ASRXX
AYGLJ
BJH
BNH
BNI
BNJ
BNO
BRMHY
BUAEY
C5G
CAG
COF
CQVAZ
C~Y
DADXH
DCMBD
EORKJ
ERI
HTOLE
ICTAB
L7Z
LJTGL
ONUMK
PET
REK
TBA
TZEDD
UA4
WWN
ID FETCH-LOGICAL-c332t-815c4fc5fd182e78046288a5492d46b53cd7d2fbde69232d019b8ac559eeb2ee3
IEDL.DBID TFW
ISICitedReferencesCount 11
ISICitedReferencesURI http://www.webofscience.com/api/gateway?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=Summon&SrcAuth=ProQuest&DestLinkType=CitingArticles&DestApp=WOS_CPL&KeyUT=000392580200001&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcvtisr.summon.serialssolutions.com%2F%23%21%2Fsearch%3Fho%3Df%26include.ft.matches%3Dt%26l%3Dnull%26q%3D
ISSN 0332-3315
IngestDate Tue Dec 02 16:42:33 EST 2025
Tue Nov 18 22:15:52 EST 2025
Sat Nov 29 05:08:04 EST 2025
Mon Oct 20 23:42:53 EDT 2025
IsDoiOpenAccess false
IsOpenAccess false
IsPeerReviewed true
IsScholarly true
Issue 3
Language English
LinkModel DirectLink
MergedId FETCHMERGED-LOGICAL-c332t-815c4fc5fd182e78046288a5492d46b53cd7d2fbde69232d019b8ac559eeb2ee3
PageCount 16
ParticipantIDs crossref_primary_10_1080_03323315_2016_1192481
informaworld_taylorfrancis_310_1080_03323315_2016_1192481
eric_primary_EJ1126426
crossref_citationtrail_10_1080_03323315_2016_1192481
PublicationCentury 2000
PublicationDate 2016-07-02
PublicationDateYYYYMMDD 2016-07-02
PublicationDate_xml – month: 07
  year: 2016
  text: 2016-07-02
  day: 02
PublicationDecade 2010
PublicationTitle Irish educational studies
PublicationYear 2016
Publisher Routledge
Publisher_xml – name: Routledge
References CIT0050
CIT0032
CIT0031
Woodley A (CIT0051) 1987
Russel M. (CIT0045) 2005; 3
Postle G. D. (CIT0042) 1995
CIT0014
Betz N. E. (CIT0005) 1993
Dutton W. H. (CIT0011) 1991
CIT0038
CIT0037
CIT0018
CIT0039
CIT0019
CIT0041
CIT0040
CIT0043
CIT0020
House J. D. (CIT0021) 2000; 27
Tsui L (CIT0049) 2007; 76
CIT0023
CIT0044
Bandura A (CIT0003) 1997
Astin A. (CIT0002) 2005
McGivney V (CIT0030) 1996
Klinger C. M. (CIT0027) 2011; 6
Noyes A. (CIT0033) 2007; 21
CIT0025
CIT0047
CIT0024
CIT0046
CIT0004
Cobbin D. M. (CIT0007) 1993
CIT0029
CIT0006
Howson A. G. (CIT0022) 1995
CIT0008
References_xml – ident: CIT0038
  doi: 10.1006/ceps.1998.0991
– ident: CIT0032
  doi: 10.1023/A:1018755201899
– volume: 3
  issue: 3
  year: 2005
  ident: CIT0045
  publication-title: Level
– ident: CIT0014
  doi: 10.1093/teamat/hrq002
– volume-title: Mathematics Children Use and Understand: Preschool through Third Grade
  year: 1991
  ident: CIT0011
– ident: CIT0047
  doi: 10.1080/00219266.2002.9655805
– ident: CIT0041
  doi: 10.1080/00220973.1997.9943455
– volume-title: Degree Attainment Rates at American Colleges and Universities
  year: 2005
  ident: CIT0002
– ident: CIT0006
  doi: 10.1007/BF00386200
– ident: CIT0004
  doi: 10.1080/02660830.1994.11730608
– volume: 21
  year: 2007
  ident: CIT0033
  publication-title: Philosophy of Mathematics Education
– volume-title: 1994 National Register of Higher Education Preparatory Programs and Special Admission Schemes
  year: 1993
  ident: CIT0007
– start-page: 37
  volume-title: Towards Excellence in Diversity: Educational equity in the Australian Higher Education Sector
  year: 1995
  ident: CIT0042
– volume: 76
  start-page: 555
  issue: 4
  year: 2007
  ident: CIT0049
  publication-title: Journal of Negro Education
– ident: CIT0020
  doi: 10.2307/749455
– ident: CIT0023
  doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2929.2004.02012.x
– ident: CIT0037
  doi: 10.3102/00346543066004543
– ident: CIT0024
  doi: 10.1080/00207340412317040
– ident: CIT0040
  doi: 10.1037/0022-0167.42.2.190
– ident: CIT0029
  doi: 10.11120/ened.2008.03010044
– ident: CIT0025
  doi: 10.1080/0141192990250105
– volume-title: Tackling the Mathematics Problem
  year: 1995
  ident: CIT0022
– volume-title: Staying or Leaving the Course. Non-Completion and Retention of Mature Students in Further and Higher Education
  year: 1996
  ident: CIT0030
– volume-title: Mathematics Self-Efficacy Scale Manual, Instrument and Scoring Guide
  year: 1993
  ident: CIT0005
– ident: CIT0050
  doi: 10.1007/978-94-017-1199-9_4
– ident: CIT0039
  doi: 10.1037/0022-0663.86.2.193
– volume-title: Choosing to Learn: Adults in Education
  year: 1987
  ident: CIT0051
– ident: CIT0043
  doi: 10.1037/h0033456
– ident: CIT0044
  doi: 10.1177/0270467603256090
– ident: CIT0046
  doi: 10.1080/00207390902914130
– ident: CIT0018
  doi: 10.2307/749515
– ident: CIT0019
  doi: 10.1002/he.325
– ident: CIT0031
  doi: 10.1080/00223980.2011.557749
– volume: 27
  start-page: 207
  year: 2000
  ident: CIT0021
  publication-title: International Journal of Industrial Media
– volume: 6
  start-page: 7
  issue: 1
  year: 2011
  ident: CIT0027
  publication-title: Adult Learning Mathematics: An International Journal
– volume-title: Self-Efficacy: The Exercise of Control
  year: 1997
  ident: CIT0003
– ident: CIT0008
  doi: 10.1080/00207390802542395
SSID ssj0038713
Score 2.067638
Snippet In August 2008, the Mathematics Learning Centre at the University of Limerick initiated a mathematics bridging course, entitled 'Head Start Maths', to provide...
In August 2008, the Mathematics Learning Centre at the University of Limerick initiated a mathematics bridging course, entitled "Head Start Maths", to provide...
SourceID eric
crossref
informaworld
SourceType Index Database
Enrichment Source
Publisher
StartPage 233
SubjectTerms adult learners
Adult Students
College Students
Diagnostic Tests
Dropout Rate
Foreign Countries
Mathematics Anxiety
mathematics bridging programme
Mathematics Education
Program Effectiveness
Questionnaires
retention
School Holding Power
Self Efficacy
STEM
STEM Education
Transitional Programs
Title The effect of a pre-university mathematics bridging course on adult learners' self-efficacy and retention rates in STEM subjects
URI https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03323315.2016.1192481
http://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/detail?accno=EJ1126426
Volume 35
WOSCitedRecordID wos000392580200001&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcvtisr.summon.serialssolutions.com%2F%23%21%2Fsearch%3Fho%3Df%26include.ft.matches%3Dt%26l%3Dnull%26q%3D
hasFullText 1
inHoldings 1
isFullTextHit
isPrint
journalDatabaseRights – providerCode: PRVAWR
  databaseName: Taylor & Francis Online Journals
  customDbUrl:
  eissn: 1747-4965
  dateEnd: 99991231
  omitProxy: false
  ssIdentifier: ssj0038713
  issn: 0332-3315
  databaseCode: TFW
  dateStart: 19810101
  isFulltext: true
  titleUrlDefault: https://www.tandfonline.com
  providerName: Taylor & Francis
link http://cvtisr.summon.serialssolutions.com/2.0.0/link/0/eLvHCXMwrV1LS8NAEF6kePDiu1hfzEHwFG2zefUo0iKiRbBqb2GzDyjURJpW8OZPd2azKe1BPeglEMhsNvv8ZvPNN4ydRYEIQvSlvSDO8CKTrpfFUddLkg5PpIrayv5of76LB4NkNOo-ODZh6WiV5EObSijCrtU0uUVW1oy4yzbnPuedkIhZEc55dCFs8DVu_TQ1h_2Xei3m6A5UCZK575FJHcPzXSkru5MjQK9ImC5tPv2tf6j2Ntt0yBOuqqGyw9Z0vktJmx3BY4994pCBit8BhQEBxBCZL4gb8LpQeC3BxnnhrgeyIBYIFDlYJQ-wWSjQ4BxKPTGeJoUKIT8Aaw1TAuj0LiB9ihLGOTwOe_dQzjM6DSr32VO_N7y-8VyCBk_it8y8pBPKwMjQKPRSNEkZUfJiQaJvKoiykEsVK99kSkeII32FcDJLhEQnRqNDrzVvskZe5PqAARcEPhBLBkoEQsWIkhCKmYQkwUxsZIsFdcek0qmXUxKNSdqpRU5d86bUvKlr3ha7WJi9VfIdvxk0qdcXD_duKcYKYUyLdZfHQTqzByqmyn6S8h8LPfyD7RHboFvLEPaPWWM2nesTti7fZ-NyempH-xeN2vf0
linkProvider Taylor & Francis
linkToHtml http://cvtisr.summon.serialssolutions.com/2.0.0/link/0/eLvHCXMwrV25TsNAEF2hgAQNNyKcUyBRGRKvr5QIJQqQpMFAOmu9hxQpOCh2kOj4dGZ8REkBFNC4sWe93vPN-s0bxi48Rzgu-tKW48d4kUHLin2vZQVBkwdSeQ2V_2h_7vmDQTActhZjYYhWST60KYQi8rWaJjcdRleUuOsG5zbnTZeYWR5OevQhKPp61cW9lvTzw85LtRpzdAiKFMnctsimiuL5rpil_amkQC-JmC5sP52t_6j4NtsswSfcFKNlh63oZJfyNpccjz32iaMGCooHTAwIIJLIbM7dgNe5yGsKeagXbnwgJ0QEgUkCuZgH5Iko0OASUj02liaRCiE_AKsNU8Lo9C4giYoURgk8hu0-pLOYDoTSffbUaYe3XavM0WBJ_JbMCpqudIx0jUJHRZOaEeUvFqT7phwvdrlUvrJNrLSHUNJWiCjjQEj0YzT69FrzA1ZLJok-ZMAF4Q-Ek44SjlA-AiVEYyYgVTDjG1lnTtUzkSwFzCmPxjhqVjqnZfNG1LxR2bx1djU3eysUPH4zOKBunz_cvqcwK0QyddZaHAhRlp-pmCIBSsR_LPToD7bnbL0b9ntR727wcMw26FZOGLZPWC2bzvQpW5Pv2SidnuVD_wtRM_we
linkToPdf http://cvtisr.summon.serialssolutions.com/2.0.0/link/0/eLvHCXMwrV07T8MwELZQQYiFN6I8b0BiCrRxXh0RtOJRqkoU6BYlfkiVSlo1KRIbP527xKnaARhgyZKc49hn-zvn83eMnXlO5LgYS1uOH-NFBA0r9r2GFQR1Hgjp1WT-o_2l7Xc6Qb_f6Bo2YWpolRRD60IoIp-raXCPpS4ZcZc1zm3O6y4Rszwc8xhC0OHrZYTOHjl5r_VaTsYc44EiQzK3LbIpD_F8V8zC8mQY0AsapnOrT2vjH-q9ydYN9ISrwle22JJKtilrs2F47LBP9BkoCB4w0hABUUSmM-YGvM0kXlPID3rhsgdiRDQQGCWQS3lAnoYCDc4hVUNtKZKoiMQHYK1hQgid3gUkUJHCIIGnXvMR0mlM20HpLntuNXvXt5bJ0GAJ_JbMCuqucLRwtcQwRZGWEWUvjkj1TTpe7HIhfWnrWCoPgaQtEU_GQSQwilEY0SvF91glGSVqnwGPCH0gmHRk5ETSR5iEWEwHpAmmfS2qzCk7JhRGvpyyaAzDeqlyapo3pOYNTfNW2cXMbFzod_xmsEe9Pnu4eU-HrBDHVFlj3g_CLN9R0UX6k5D_WOjBH2xP2Wr3phW27zoPh2yN7uRsYfuIVbLJVB2zFfGeDdLJSe74X08W-tA
openUrl ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc=info%3Aofi%2Fenc%3AUTF-8&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fsummon.serialssolutions.com&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=The+effect+of+a+pre-university+mathematics+bridging+course+on+adult+learners%E2%80%99+self-efficacy+and+retention+rates+in+STEM+subjects&rft.jtitle=Irish+educational+studies&rft.au=Johnson%2C+Patrick&rft.au=O%E2%80%99Keeffe%2C+Lisa&rft.date=2016-07-02&rft.issn=0332-3315&rft.eissn=1747-4965&rft.volume=35&rft.issue=3&rft.spage=233&rft.epage=248&rft_id=info:doi/10.1080%2F03323315.2016.1192481&rft.externalDBID=n%2Fa&rft.externalDocID=10_1080_03323315_2016_1192481
thumbnail_l http://covers-cdn.summon.serialssolutions.com/index.aspx?isbn=/lc.gif&issn=0332-3315&client=summon
thumbnail_m http://covers-cdn.summon.serialssolutions.com/index.aspx?isbn=/mc.gif&issn=0332-3315&client=summon
thumbnail_s http://covers-cdn.summon.serialssolutions.com/index.aspx?isbn=/sc.gif&issn=0332-3315&client=summon