Value, that is the importance of the ability to solve a problem, did not differ as a function of problem type. This suggests that it is of similar importance for students to be able to solve modelling as compared to other types of problems.
The only significant difference was found for self-efficacy expectations related to word problems versus modelling problems (T[209]=2.44, p=0.015).
Students were more convinced of being able to solve modelling problems than word problems. In view of the complexity of the modelling problems (see Section 2.3), this finding is surprising and may have been due to students’ lack of experience with modelling problems. This finding means that students tend to overestimate their ability to solve modelling problems and adjust their self-efficacy expectations after experience with these kinds of task (cf. similar findings by Panaoura et al. (2009b)).