Investigation the causal relationship of the learning strategies with mathematical performance with mediating role of interest and behavioral engagement

This study aimed to test the causal relationship between learning strategies with mathematical performance with mediating role of interest and behavioral engagement. For this purpose, 287 male and female students of experimental, mathematics and humanity disciplines of Masjed Soleiman city high schools were selected using stratified random sampling. Then, they completed Student Engagement in Mathematics Scale. The results showed that all the direct paths of this model were significant other than the path of the surface approach to behavioral engagement in math. This research results indicated that surface approach to math learning namely math content and formulas memorization instead of understanding its underlying laws negatively associated with math interest and performance, while deep approach puts a positive effect on math interest and behavioral engagement.