Educational Networks as Evidence of Students' Interactions in Mathematical Learning
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Abstract
This study explores the relationship between academic performance and social network structures among tenth-grade students in Costa Rican high schools. It aims to assess how interactions within and outside the classroom correlate with mathematics grades. Data were collected from 826 students across 35 schools, and social network analysis was conducted using various network statistics. Results indicate that classroom networks, marked by higher cohesion and density, exhibited a positive but statistically non-significant correlation with academic performance, whereas outside networks showed lower cohesion and negative correlations with grades. These findings underscore the potential benefits of fostering collaborative classroom interactions to improve learning outcomes. Future research should focus on teacher-guided group dynamics and external factors influencing outside networks to gain deeper insights into their impact on academic achievement.
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