The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between critical thinking skills and math problem solving ability of students by mediating role of achievement motivation and attitude ...toward mathematics. The statistical population of this study includes all sixth grade students in Mashhad in the academic year 2018. For this reason, a sample of 440 students was selected using multi-stage cluster sampling. Students completed Cronel Level x Critical Thinking Questionnaire, Achievement Motivation, Attitude toward Mathematics and Mathematical Problem Solving Test.This research is correlational and data analysis was performed using path analysis method. The results showed that critical thinking skills had a significant positive effect on the math problem solving ability of students. In addition, it turned out that the attitude toward mathematics has a significant positive effect on the math problem solving ability of students. The achievement motivation does not effect on the math problem solving ability of students, but it has a positive and significant impact on the attitude toward mathematics. It was also found that despite the positive and significant effect of critical thinking skills on the attitude toward mathematics and the achievement motivation, these two variables, namely, the attitude toward mathematics and the achievement motivation, do not have a mediator role between critical thinking skills and the math problem solving ability of students
Background: The relationship between attitudes and behaviour has led to a focus on the role played by attitudes in the teaching and learning of mathematics.
Purpose: This paper reports on an ...investigation into student teachers' self-reported attitudes towards mathematics in the context of a mathematics education programme. The programme had been developed by the authors in response to a new, reformed four-year undergraduate initial teacher education (ITE) for primary teachers in Ireland. The authors aimed to use the feedback to evaluate and develop the course further.
Sample: We report on the attitudes of 345 pre-service primary teachers enrolled in a four-year undergraduate ITE programme. 281 of these participants had matched survey data before and after participating in the mathematics education programme.
Method and Design: Four evaluation criteria were used as a conceptual framework for the evaluation of the mathematics education programme. A multi-method approach was taken in investigating the students' attitudes to mathematics by using a scale as a quantitative measure of attitude alongside open-ended survey items that provided qualitative insights into changes in attitudes.
Results and conclusions: Results from the survey data suggested overall that the participants' attitudes towards mathematics were more positive after they had experienced the mathematics education programme. Overall, the written responses suggested that according to self-reportage, participants perceived that participation in the mathematics education programme had affected their attitudes towards mathematics positively. Comments indicated that the 'small group' tutorial structure was particularly well received and was associated with opportunities to actively engage, explore, interact and reflect. Suggestions offered by the participants will be used to inform planning and development of the mathematics programme.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, NUK, PILJ, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Research examining the characteristics of both qualified and pre-service teachers focuses on traits including gender, socio-economic and socio-demographic background, knowledge and a variety of ...relevant affective constructs. Studies also investigate such traits among entrants to initial teacher education (ITE). The desire for more diversity within the teaching profession has led to alternative entry routes to the teaching profession (consecutive model for post-graduates) for those who may be unable to gain entry via the traditional concurrent (undergraduate) route. Internationally, there are divergent viewpoints and practices in relation to the value and use of the respective routes. This paper presents a comparative study within the Irish context, examining whether the consecutive model route to ITE promotes diversity in terms of entrants' attitudes to mathematics. The study examines the entry-level mathematics attitudes of two distinctive groups of ITE entrants, namely 419 concurrent and 59 consecutive elementary pre-service teachers, in one Irish ITE institution prior to engagement with their ITE mathematics education programme. It compares their enjoyment of mathematics as well as their beliefs regarding the value of mathematics and examines the extent to which any distinguishing differences are apparent among the respective cohorts using the Aiken's Revised Mathematics Attitude Scale. Analyses indicate generally positive attitudes among both cohorts; however, differences are evident between the cohorts with the consecutive route cohort demonstrating particularly apposite attitudes. The findings support the belief that the consecutive ITE route holds merit and prompts further investigation regarding the unique dispositions that these entrants possess.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, NUK, PILJ, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Developing problem solving competence is one of the main goals of Mathematics Education. Self-regulated learning skills are important for success in problem solving. The aim of this paper is to ...present the results of a research about 10-11 years old pupils’ self-regulated learning and problem solving skills and the relation between these two skills. The results show that more than three quarters of 10-11 years old pupils like Mathematics, but only the half of them likes to solve non-routine problems. The positive attitude towards Mathematics is influenced by pupils’ positive experiences on solving problems and their beliefs in the utility of Mathematics in their future. Most of the pupils don’t give up if they can’t solve the problem, they go over the text again, they try to find similar worked examples, they ask for help. There is a mild correlation between pupils’ self-control and problem solving skills, a weak correlation between pupils’ attitude towards Mathematics and their problem solving skills.
Apart from the data on test reliability, the psychometric features of the TIMSS variables are not officially available. It is therefore not clear whether the TIMSS findings capture real educational ...trends. Being concerned with mathematics attitude, the aim of this research was to determine the psychometric values of a mathematics attitude scale derived from a student questionnaire, and, if these are appropriate, to examine the relation of mathematics attitude to gender and mathematics achievement, and search for gender differences in the applied mathematics attitude indicators. By using a sample of 89 seventh-grade students involved in a TIMSS 2003 pilot research, it revealed the following findings: (a) the representativity reliability, homogeneity and validity of the applied attitude scale were acceptable, (b) attitude to mathematics was related to mathematics achievement, (c) gender differences in mathematics attitude were not found and (d) gender differences in the applied indicators were only present for the statement "I need to do well in mathematics to get into the faculty of my choice" where males expressed a higher agreement than females.
nema
The Aiken Attitude to Mathematics Scale (L. Aiken, 1974, 1979) was administered to 430 adult students in a tertiary preparation program, and the factorial validity of the scale was investigated ...through exploratory factor analysis. Two factors were extracted with high reliabilities, as opposed to Aiken's four-factor structure. (SLD)
Many studies have indicated that mathematics anxiety, and other negative attitudes and emotions toward mathematics, are pervasive and are associated with lower mathematical performance. Some previous ...research has suggested that working memory is related to both mathematics anxiety and mathematics. Moreover, both gender and chosen course of study (sciences vs. humanities) appeared likely to influence students' attitudes to mathematics. In the present study, 40 university undergraduates completed a battery of assessments investigating working memory, attitude to mathematics, test anxiety. and mental and written arithmetic. Attitudes to mathematics were significantly associated with the other variables: working memory, test anxiety, and both measures of mathematical performance. The other variables were not strongly associated with one another. There were no gender differences in mathematical performance, but females exhibited more negative attitudes to mathematics and higher test anxiety than males. After controlling for test anxiety, there ceased to be significant gender differences in attitudes to mathematics. Science students had more positive attitudes to mathematics than humanities students, but the groups did not differ in test anxiety, Science students were better at written but not mental arithmetic. They were also better at working memory, but this was not a significant covariate when the groups were compared on mathematical performance and attitudes to mathematics The results are discussed, with particular focus on implications for future research on influences on mathematics anxiety.
Most studies of children's attitudes to mathematics have dealt with children in second grade or later, and have suggested that attitudes deteriorate, and anxiety increases with age. The present study ...investigated attitudes to mathematics in 67 English and 49 Chinese children at the end of their first year of school. The participants were given Thomas and Dowker's (2000) Mathematics Attitude Questionnaire, which uses pictorial rating scales to assess primary school children's mathematics anxiety, liking for mathematics, unhappiness at poor performance in mathematics, and self-rating in mathematics. They were also given the British Abilities Scales Basic Number Skills test. Attitudes were generally positive, though not more so than previously found for older primary school children. The Chinese children performed better in the arithmetic test and also rated themselves higher than the English children, but did not differ in other attitudes. Self-rating in mathematics and lack of unhappiness at poor performance were associated with better performance in the English group. There were no significant relationships between attitudes and performance in the Chinese group. Implications of the findings are discussed.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, DOBA, EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NMLJ, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
PDF
