Title: Why do students fall into webtoon viewing while they give up mathematics? - An fMRI study

Authors: Seung-Hyuk Kwon; Yeong-Ji Lee; Yong-Ju Kwon

Addresses: Department of Biology Education, Korea National University of Education, Taseongtabyeon-ro, 250 – 28173 Chungbuk, South Korea ' Department of Biology Education, Korea National University of Education, Taseongtabyeon-ro, 250 – 28173 Chungbuk, South Korea ' Department of Biology Education, Korea National University of Education, Taseongtabyeon-ro, 250 – 28173 Chungbuk, South Korea

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to identify brain activation regions related to flow and motivation during mathematics problem solving and webtoon viewing based on brain imaging technology. Researchers measured brain activation using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and investigated flow and motivation through questionnaires. Significant differences between mathematics problem solving and webtoon viewing were found in high school students' brain activation regions. Based on the functions of these brain activation regions, result-oriented reward pursuit could play an important role in students' motivation-inducing during mathematics problem solving. However, investigation of flow and motivation from webtoon viewing were ascertained to be caused from pleasure from new information presented in the story and picture. Results of this study could help devise a specific strategy for mathematics problem solving instruction.

Keywords: flow experience; functional magnetic resonance imaging; fMRI; mathematics problem solving; motivation; webtoon viewing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJKL.2020.109883

International Journal of Knowledge and Learning, 2020 Vol.13 No.3, pp.201 - 213

Accepted: 14 Feb 2019
Published online: 29 Sep 2020 *

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