Assessing the Influence of Attitude Towards Mathematics on Achievement of Grade 10 and 12 Female Students in Comparison with Their Male Counterparts: Wolkite, Ethiopia
Engida Melese Simegn,
Zeytu Gashaw Asfaw
Issue:
Volume 5, Issue 5, October 2017
Pages:
56-69
Received:
21 November 2017
Accepted:
6 December 2017
Published:
10 January 2018
Abstract: Exploring why more males achieve more than females in mathematics at secondary school level when there appear to be no gender differences in the achievement at earlier years is worthy of investigation. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of attitude towards mathematics on the achievement of female students in comparison with their male counterparts and also to examine the relationship between attitudes and mathematics achievement. The participants of the study were 240 grade ten and 127 grade twelve students of General Secondary and Preparatory School in Wolkite Town. These students were selected using stratified random sampling technique. Attitude towards Mathematics Inventory (ATMI) was used to measure students’ attitude, whereas their achievement was measured by the score obtained from Mathematics Achievement Test (MAT). Descriptive Statistics, Multiple Linear Regression Models, Independent – samples t – test, and Pearson Correlation Coefficient were employed to analyze the collected data by using a Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. The results, in both grade levels, unveiled that students had positive attitude towards mathematics but at medium level, however, the level of female students was less than males. The regression models were fit in predicting the contribution of components of attitude towards mathematics scales on students’ achievement. In this regard, 42.8% (Grade 10) and 55.4% (Grade 12) of the variation in the achievement of students were jointly accounted for by the three variables – the enjoyment, the motivation, and the confidence attitude scales. In both grade levels, no significant gender differences were shown in attitudes towards mathematics but females showed greater decline in attitudes in terms of grade level. However, significant gender differences were specified on achievement. Attitude towards mathematics and students’ achievement were significantly correlated (r =.660; p <.001 (Grade 10) and r =.735; p <.001 (Grade 12)). Therefore, this study suggests that, the school, the teachers, parents, and concerned bodies have to intervene and design ways in order to enhance students’ attitude and performance in mathematics, in particular female students.
Abstract: Exploring why more males achieve more than females in mathematics at secondary school level when there appear to be no gender differences in the achievement at earlier years is worthy of investigation. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of attitude towards mathematics on the achievement of female students in comparison with thei...
Show More
