Copyright 2012 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

9 Comments

1. 1. MedicalQuack 07:23 PM 12/28/12

   So now what do we do with the PLOS 1 study that says math gives people physical pain? I posted this with a little bit of satire but it's full on study with MRI brain studies, etc. I try to get people interested in a tiny bit of math or at least understand that it's running the economics today and be aware. I did kind of chuckle when I read the Plos One study as I thought to myself, gee this is why those who have blocked the pain or don't have any fear of math have all the money . Does this explain how the algorithms moved all the money in the world because of this fear and pain, if so that explains a lot or gives us something to blame it on:) So coupled with this article motivation is the key factor and not IQ so more folks theoretically can get into math, after conquering the pain and fear:)Nice!
   
   I can't enter a link here so you can search Algo Duping Plos One Journal in Google to find it.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

2. 2. MrNikKane 08:24 PM 12/28/12

   Why does the conclusion of this study surprise anyone? Kids who are more interested in math and have better studying techniques are more likely to improve in it? Seriously? This required a scientific study? If anyone wants to give me a fat grant I've just developed a similar hypothesis that kids who are more interested in History and have better studying techniques are more likely to improve at History. If I get encouraging results maybe I'll try to answer the age old question of whether kids who are more interested in Latin and have better studying techniques are more likely to improve at Latin.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

3. 3. curmudgeon 11:26 AM 12/29/12

   "Why does the conclusion of this study surprise anyone? Kids who are more interested in math and have better studying techniques are more likely to improve in it?"
   
   As usual the corollary is mistaken for the conclusion! The point is that none of the wizard wheezes like intensive study camps that we have seen foisted on children by 'concerned' educationalists and eager beaver parents is in the least bit effective in 'challenging' the status quo. Regrettably this will almost certainly fail to change policy - Governments have to be seen to be doing something, after all - but we can dream!

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

4. 4. sami_tareq 12:35 PM 12/29/12

   
   Most of the time I doubt about the impact of the IQ
   
   And this article makes me doubt more
   
   The genetics can't be the primary reason of our academic achievement level
   
   I think the biggest impact is in the self choice of being successful or failure
   

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

5. 5. mike_midwest 02:42 PM 12/29/12

   Since these were "middle of the pack" kids there probably was not a great deal of difference in their IQs. I don't think it makes much sense to ask whether IQ or motivation are the biggest factor as they aren't measured on the same scale. Certainly we should applaud efforts to motivate kids to learn. It is rather hard to change their IQ by that age. Good nutrition and a cognitively rich environment when they are very young can affect adult IQ.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

6. 6. mike_midwest 02:42 PM 12/29/12

   Since these were "middle of the pack" kids there probably was not a great deal of difference in their IQs. I don't think it makes much sense to ask whether IQ or motivation are the biggest factor as they aren't measured on the same scale. Certainly we should applaud efforts to motivate kids to learn. It is rather hard to change their IQ by that age. Good nutrition and a cognitively rich environment when they are very young can affect adult IQ.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

7. 7. authentic8 in reply to Wladik 04:53 AM 12/30/12

   You managed to get in a dig at religious people in a completely unrelated article about mathematics. That's quite impressive!
   
   It is, of course, nonsense and completely irrelevant, but kudos to you for your tenacity!
   
   (Mathematically capable and religious)

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

8. 8. gmperkins 02:47 PM 12/31/12

   The key is IQ didn't matter. 2nd, this helps explain America's math weakness versus other countries. Even though a parent may not have lasting influence, if as a whole society feel math is important that will affect peer's views on math and help students to be more motivated towards math. In America, math is practically discouraged by society rather than embraced. This will have lasting impressions and affects on borderline math students who might have become motivated.

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this

9. 9. Y V Chawla 12:47 PM 1/3/13

   Interest is indeed the most important factor in performance in Maths or any other field.Interest in anything is self-sustained entertainment. When one is not interested in any thing,one is doing compulsively- one is essentially waylaid by entertainment or any other relieving addiction to counter the compulsive doing.
   And interest is generated when one is comfortable with uneasiness and uncertainty, one faces in daily life. Interest is vitiated when the energy is dissipated in complaining, blaming on facing uneasiness and uncertainty.
   https://sites.google.com/site/yvchawla/

   Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this