The effect of mathematics instruction based on Dienes' principle of dynamism on attitude, motivation, anxiety, and basic psychological needs

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of mathematics instruction structured according to Dienes' Principle of Dynamicity on 8th-grade students' attitudes toward mathematics, motivation, anxiety levels, and basic psychological needs. The research was conducted using a single-group time-series design. The study group consisted of a total of 51 eighth-grade students attending a public middle school located in the central district of Batman. During the research process, students were administered consecutive pre-tests over a two-week period. Following the second pre-test, the instructional process based on Dienes' Principle of Dynamicity was implemented. After the intervention was completed, two post-tests were conducted. Data were collected using the Mathematics Attitude Scale, the Academic Self-Regulation Scale to measure motivation, the Mathematics Anxiety Scale, and the Basic Psychological Needs Scale, and were analyzed in accordance with time-series analysis procedures. According to the findings, an overall increase was observed in the satisfaction levels of all basic psychological needs after the intervention; however, only the change in the need for competence was found to be statistically significant. Correspondingly, no statistically significant change was observed in external types of motivation, while intrinsic motivation levels showed a positive increase. Similarly, a statistically significant decrease was found in mathematics anxiety levels. These findings are consistent with the literature suggesting that supporting basic psychological needs enhances intrinsic motivation toward mathematics and reduces anxiety levels. On the other hand, a decrease was observed in students' attitudes toward mathematics. This decline is thought to be related to the negative impact of the adaptation process to a new learning environment. Overall, the results indicate that mathematics instruction based on Dienes' Principle of Dynamicity positively influences students' affective characteristics.