In the book, the relationship between affect and modeling is discussed because, as educational psychologists have suggested for decades, affect directly influences achievement. Moreover, given the importance of mathematical modeling and the applications to high level mathematics, it provides the field of mathematics psychology with insight regarding affect, in relation to mathematical modeling. By doing so it helps determine the degree to which understanding of mathematics and understanding affect in mathematical modeling episodes may have a direct effect on cognition.

Scott A. Chamberlin is a professor in the School of Education at the University of Wyoming. His research interests include affect, creativity, and mathematical modeling. Bharath Sriraman is a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Montana.