TABLE OF CONTENTS
Tittle Page i
Certification ii
Approval page iii
Dedication iv
Acknowledgements v
Table of Contents vi
List of Tables ix
List of figure x
Abstract xi
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 1
Background of the Study 1
Statement of the Problem 11
Purpose of the Study 13
Significance of the Study 13
Scope of the Study 15
Research Questions 16
Hypotheses 16
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW 18
Conceptual Framework 19
Concept of Attitude 20
Concept of Self-concept 23
Concept of Achievement 26
Concept of Gender 27
Theoretical Framework 28
Learning theory of Attitude 28
Self-regulation theory 29
Review of empirical Studies 30
Attitude and academic achievement 30
Gender differences in mathematics 36
Self-concept and academic achievement 41
Summary of Literature Review 48
CHAPTER THREE: RESEARCH METHOD
Design of the Study 51
Area of the Study 51
Population of the Study 52
Sample and Sampling Technique 52
Instrument for Data Collection 52
Validation of the Instrument 53
Reliability of the Instrument 54
Method of Data Collection 54
Method of Data Analysis 54
CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION OF RESULTS 55
CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
Discussion of Results 65
Educational Implications of the Findings 70 Conclusion 70
Recommendations 71
Limitation of the findings 73
Suggestions for further studies 73
Summary of the Study 73
References 76
Appendices
A: SPSS print out on reliability 84
B: Regression analysis print out 85
C: Sample of questionnaire 99
Table 3. Pearson’s Product moment Correlation Analysis of students’ self-concept and theirTable 1. Pearson’s Product moment Correlation Analysis of students’ attitude and their
academic achievement in mathematics.
Table 2. Regression Analysis of the relationship between students’ attitude and their academic
achievement in mathematics.
academic achievement in mathematics.
Table 4. . Regression Analysis of the relationship between students’ self-concept and their
academic achievement in mathematics.
Table 5. Pearson’s Product moment Correlation Analysis of the difference in the relationship
between students’ attitude and their academic achievement in mathematics based on
gender.
Table 6. Regression Analysis of the relationship in the difference between students’ attitude
and their academic achievement in mathematics based on gender.
Table 7. Pearson’s Product moment Correlation Analysis of the difference between students’
self-concept and their academic achievement in mathematics based on gender.
Regression Analysis of the relationship between students’ self-concept and their
academic achievement in mathematics based on gender.
Table 9. A model summary of the inter-relationship between students’ attitude, self-concept and their academic achievement in mathematics.
Table 10. Regression Analysis of the inter-relationship between students’ attitude, self-concept
and academic achievement in mathematics.
List of Figure
Figure 1. Conceptual Framework 19
Abstract
This study examined the students’ attitude and self-concept as correlates of their achievement in senior Secondary School mathematics in Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State of Nigeria. The design was correlational research type. The target populations for the study were mathematics students of senior secondary II (SS II) classes in Ankpa Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. The sample for the study was three hundred and thirty two (332) mathematics students (male: 166 and female: 166) selected using stratified and simple random sampling techniques. Five hypotheses were raised to guide the study. The instruments used to elicit the relevant data were: A twenty item instrument questionnaire called Mathematics Attitude Scale (MAS) and a twenty item instrument questionnaire called Academic Self-concept Questionnaire (ASCQ) designed by the researcher and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd terms examination scores of students in their senior secondary one mathematics were obtained as the students’ academic achievement. The reliability coefficients of 0.80 and 0.83 for MAS and ASCQ respectively were obtained. The data collected were analyzed using Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation and multiple regression analysis. The hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The results revealed that: there is significant relationship between students’ attitude and their academic achievement in mathematics, also the results revealed a significant relationship between students’ self-concept and their academic achievement in mathematics in senior secondary school mathematics. A significant difference between male and female students’ attitude, self-concept and their academic achievement in mathematics in secondary school mathematics was also found in favour of female. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended among others that academic achievement is not a gender issue, both genders should be encouraged to excel in academic achievement since equal opportunities is provided for both genders. Students should be discouraged from forming stereotyped attitude and self-concept towards certain subjects, because of their sexes. This will boost positive competition between males and females, and enhance academic achievement and excellence among senior secondary school mathematics students.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Mathematics throughout the world is regarded as essential tool in many fields, including natural science, engineering, medicine, finance and social sciences. Branches of Mathematics include: algebra which are abstract algebra, modules, vector spaces, combinatory and number theory; analysis which include: calculus, real and complex analysis, vector and tensor analysis, differential equations and functional analysis; geometry which includes euclidean and geometry, affine, metric, projective geometry, discrete geometry, differential geometry and algebraic geometry; foundations which are Logic, computability, recursion theory, set theory, category theory and applied mathematics which are probability, statistics, game theory system and control theory and computer science (Obodo, 2004). Applied mathematics as a branch of mathematics is concerned with the application of mathematical knowledge to other fields. This branch of mathematics inspires and makes use of new mathematical discoveries which has led to the development of entirely new mathematics disciplines, such as statistics and game theory. The earliest uses of mathematics were in trading, land measurement, painting and weaving patterns and recording of time. The use of mathematics has since been greatly extended to politics, stock market, financial calculations (like budget), population, competition, and even as a prestige (Usman & Ojo, 2014).
Mathematics is a science with the basic scientific skills and objectives. Zakariyya (2014) posited that without mathematics, there will be no science, without sciences there will be no technology and without technology there will be no modern society. From this statement, it is therefore an accepted truth that no society can reach heights of greatness unless there is an ample supply of dedicated men and women in all fields critical to its growth, and developing such experts like scientists and technologists to satisfy the concept, there is a need for a good knowledge of mathematics in order to work efficiently. Education enables science and technology with a good knowledge of mathematics to convert human skills and enterprises into materials wealth and social amenities. It affords man a comfortable living and simplifies man activities. For instance, technology has provided a tractor for farming instead of a hoe and a vacuum cleaner for clearing instead of broom, while science is primarily concerned with the production of knowledge, technology is concerned with its use with mathematics playing an essential role in the development of technology. The future and longevity of any social sector depends on how many talented young people are attracted to mathematics (Usman & Ojo, 2014).
According to Thomaskutty and George (2008), mathematics cannot be considered as a classroom discipline only. This implied that not only an academician, a scientist, or an engineer, need mathematics but also a shopkeeper, a housewife, a sportsman, a farmer, and an employee need mathematics. A common man gets on sometimes very well without learning how to read and write, but he can never pull on without learning how to count and calculate. Thus mathematics has therefore become an everyday and everybody’s phenomenon. Man uses it directly or indirectly in everyday life or activities. It is a human invention, borne out of human in attempt to solve human problems (Kolawole & Oluwatayo, 2005). In spite of all these importance accorded to mathematics in the society, there exist low levels of mathematics attainment of students at every segment of the educational system in the country. This has given many educators/stakeholders a high level of concern (Ajayi, Abiola & Adeyanju, 2011).
There are many factors suspected to be responsible for low level of students’ academic achievement in mathematics. Some of these factors include; students’ mathematical achievement score, teaching materials, teachers’ knowledge of the subject matter, parental background, extrinsic motivation, anxiety, interest, attitude and self-concept (Kogce, Yildaz, Aydiz & Altindaz, 2009).