– This article predicts participation in advanced math which is closely related to interest in STEM (although we recognize that participation in advanced math does not necessarily means interest in STEM).
– Confidence in mathematics was the strongest predictor of achievement for students from Canada and Norway, whereas for the students from the USA, parents’ highest education level was the highest predictor of achievement.
– Student home environment related variables were stronger predictors of achievement for females than for males in all three countries.
– In all of the three countries, the strongest predictors of participation in advanced mathematics courses were students’ attitudes toward mathematics.
– Parents’ education level was one of the strongest predictors of participation for Canadian female students and all students from the USA.
– There were significant differences between males and females in all three countries, as was reported in other TIMSS publications. The largest difference between gender groups was found among Norwegian students, while the smallest gender differences were found among American students.
– Large differences were observed in the participation rates of males and females in Canada and in Norway. In all three countries, males showed higher participation rates in mathematics.
– A much greater degree of association between the socioeconomic status related variables and mathematics achievement for the USA indicates that socioeconomic status is not similarly associated with achievement in different countries.