Attitudes towards Mathematics as a Predictor of Students’ Motivation to Learn among High School Students in Laikipia County Kenya
- December 7, 2020
- Posted by: RSIS Team
- Categories: Education, IJRIAS, Mathematics
International Journal of Research and Innovation in Applied Science (IJRIAS) | Volume V, Issue XI, November 2020 | ISSN 2454–6186
MbuthiaNgunjiri (PhD)
Laikipia University, Kenya
ABSTRACT
This study examined the influence of students’ attitudes toward mathematics on motivation to learn mathematics among high school students in Laikipia County, Kenya. The study was guided by Keller’s ARCS model of motivation. Descriptive survey research design was used in the study. The target population consisted of all 8357 Form Four students in Laikipia County. Simple random sampling was employed to select the sample schools, sample classes, and respondents. A sample of 392 students(i.e.,216 males and 176 females) was selected for the study using Krejcie and Morgan’s table of sample sizes. A self- administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Cronbach’s alpha was used to determine the reliability of research instruments. Motivation to learn (MTL) had a reliability coefficient of 0.95, while attitude toward mathematics (ATM) had a coefficient of 0.97. Data was analyzed using t-test and simple regression analysis. The results revealed that:(i) there is a significant gender difference in attitudes towards mathematics favoring male students, and (ii) students’ attitudes had a significant influence on students’ motivation to learn mathematics. The study concludes that:(i) mathematics teachers should put more effort to ensure that all students regardless of gender have similar attitudes toward mathematics and (ii)mathematics teachers should avoid negative attitude influence practices and also apply appropriate motivational techniques to improve students’ motivation toward mathematics.
Keywords: Attitudes toward mathematics, gender, motivation to learn
1. INTRODUCTION
Mathematics is an indispensable tool for the advancement of science and technology, and without developments in science and technology, no country can make meaningful progress in improving the quality of life of its people (Cockroft,1982), Furthermore, mathematics as a discipline is applied in most other disciplines such as finance and commerce. Mathematics takes a significant position in human civilization as a medium of social function in our everyday life (KICD, 2019).The social functions of mathematics includes buying, selling, banking, counting among others.
