Abstract
Differentiated instruction (DI) is widely promoted for addressing learner diversity in science education, yet evidence of its motivational and achievement impact in secondary chemistry remains limited. This study examined the effects of DI on students’ motivational appraisals and learning outcomes in high school chemistry across culturally diverse contexts. DI was implemented through customized pedagogical kits, a tiered tool that diagnoses students’ chemistry misconceptions and assigns matched small-group activities instead of whole-class instruction. A total of 205 students from Arab and Jewish educational sectors in Israel participated in a pre-/post-intervention following a three-tier response to intervention model. Data were collected through validated questionnaires and chemistry achievement tasks and analyzed using hierarchical regression and structural equation modelling (SEM). Results showed significant improvements in achievement, self-efficacy, and attitudes toward DI and non-frontal methods. SEM demonstrated excellent model fit (comparative fit index [CFI] = .997, root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = .028), with attitudes mediating contextual influences on achievement. SEM demonstrated excellent model fit (CFI = .997, RMSEA = .028), with attitudes mediating the relationship between contextual factors and achievement. Multi-group analysis indicated partial non-invariance by sector in the Israeli context: the path from attitudes to achievement was stronger among Arab students than among Jewish students. Full invariance was found by gender. These findings position DI as an effective, culturally responsive pedagogy with implications for chemistry-specific differentiation. The paper also discusses the implications of these findings for classroom instruction and for policymakers seeking to reduce sector-based educational inequities.
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This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Article Type: Research Article
EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed, Volume 22, Issue 9, September 2026, Article No: em2910
https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/19187
Publication date: 20 Aug 2026
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