The mediating role of self-efficacy between high school students' perceived teacher support and mathematics feedback literacy

Background: During high school, some students struggle with maths because of their inadequate mathematics feedback literacy. Mathematics teacher support is crucial for enhancing students' mathematics feedback literacy. This research aims to analyze the fundamental traits of high school students' mathematics feedback literacy, examine the connection between their perceived mathematics teacher support and feedback literacy, and explore the influence of mathematics self-efficacy within this context. Methods: The study population consisted of 619 high school students, including freshmen (N = 366; 59.1 %) and sophomores (N = 253; 40.9 %), in the western provinces of China. The instruments used were the Mathematics Feedback Literacy Scale, the Perceived Mathematics Teacher Support Scale, and Mathematics Self-Efficacy Scale. Results: The research uncovered a notable positive correlation between students' perceived mathematics teacher support (especially affective support and autonomy support) and mathematics feedback literacy, with affective support exhibiting the greatest explanatory capacity. Deeper examinations indicated that mathematics self-efficacy functioned as a pivotal mediator in this connection, particularly in linking affective support to various aspects of mathematics feedback literacy. Conclusion: This research underscores the pivotal role that students' perceived mathematics teachers support, particularly in terms of affective support, and their mathematics self-efficacy play in fostering their mathematics feedback literacy during high school. The discoveries not only broaden the theoretical scope of research on feedback literacy, but also provide new practical perspectives and strategic recommendations for improving high school students' mathematics feedback literacy, enhancing mathematics self-efficacy, and ultimately facilitating the development of mathematical learning effectiveness and mathematical thinking skills.