The Perceived Utility Value of Subject and Its Shaping Factors for Children

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K14251
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 09040:Education on school subjects and primary/secondary education-related
• Research Institution: Shinshu University (2020-2023); Kansai Gaidai University (2019)
• Principal Investigator: MIWA SHUHEI 信州大学, 学術研究院教育学系, 准教授 (70824952)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 利用価値 / 課題価値 / 動機づけ / 教科 / 利用価値介入 / 興味 / 変化 / 価値形成

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we aimed to understand the utility value that children perceive for each subject and to clarify the factors affecting the shaping of that value. It was found that the value that children perceive for learning differs depending on the subject and school age. Specifically, the practical utility value of mathematics, Japanese, science, and social studies decreased as the grade level increased, while the perceived value of English increased in junior high school. Regarding the correlation between subjects, the correlation of interest in far-distant subjects such as mathematics and Japanese became lower as the grade level increased, but the correlation of utility value remained moderate even as the grade increased. The results also indicated the possibility that the effectiveness of interventions to increase the utility value could lead to an increase in value.

Free Research Field

教育心理学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究では，各教科に対して子どもたちがどのように感じているのかをデータをもとに示した。近年では学習を通して「何ができるようになるのか」を明確化することが重要視されているが，価値を理解しやすい/理解が難しい科目を学年の違いにも着目しながら明らかにした。子どもの教科に対する考え方をデータとして示すことで，学習指導にも役立てることができる。また価値を高めるための介入の効果についても検証した。有用性を考える介入を実践することで，子どもたちの動機づけの向上に寄与できると思われる。