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Moms & Math Project
Faculty member: Janet Hyde
Number of positions typically available: 10-12
Minimum number of credit hours required: 3
Number of semesters: 2 required
Project Description:
American children perform less well than children from other nations on standardized mathematics tests.
Many explanations, as well as solutions, for this deficit have been offered. We focus on parents as a
solution, and specifically on parents’ involvement with their children as they do math homework. The
research, grounded in social learning theory and Vygotsky’s theory, investigates mothers’ interactions
with their 5th grade children as they work mathematics problems together. We videotape these interactions
in participants’ homes and, later, code the videotapes. Questionnaires are administered as well. We want
to find out which natural teaching approaches are most effective, and whether these interactions change
between 5th and 7th grade.
Students who want to work on this project should sign up for Psychology 618, Mother-Child Interactions,
for Spring, 2006. Contact Janet Hyde (jshyde@wisc.edu) for an application form. In Summer, 2006,
some students will have the opportunity to be hired ($9.50/hr) to collect data in the homes of participating
families. Then students will take Psychology 694 (Research in Developmental Psychology) in Fall, 2006.
While working in our lab, students learn a great deal about various phases of the research process.
Research assistants collect pilot data, learn interview skills, code videotapes, enter and check data,
run data analyses, maintain lab materials, and contribute their ideas to the research project.
Research assistants in our lab must be highly motivated, reliable, and detail oriented. An interest in
developmental issues is critical. Those who collect data in the homes of participating families must be
good at interacting with children.
The required minimum GPA is 3.2.
Contact:
Professor: Janet Hyde
email: jshyde@wisc.edu
phone: 262-9522
Application procedures: Contact Janet Hyde at jshyde@wisc.edu for an application.
© 2000 by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System
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