Abstract:
The main purpose of this study was to explore by means of quantitative, exploratory,
descriptive and inferential methods of statistical analysis to investigate how students’
achievement in mathematics is affected by students’ perception and students’ interest
to learn mathematics. The study further investigated the effect of students’ perception
on students’ interest to learn mathematics. The study adopted purposive sampling
method in selecting the school and a simple random sampling technique to administer
270 questionnaires to Bole Senior High School students in the Savanna Region of
Ghana. A total number of 270 Students were given questionnaires on students’
interest in mathematics, students’ perception of mathematics and students’
achievement test to indicate their responses for the study. However, 232
questionnaires were properly responded, representing 85.9% response rate. The
Results from 232 students who responded to the various questionnaire items revealed
that students’ interest in mathematics is dependent on the perception and the
misconception held by students about mathematics as a subject. Students’
achievement in mathematics was also found to be statistically significant on students’
interest to learn mathematics and perception held by students about mathematics. The
findings indicated that when Bole Senior High School students have good perception
about mathematics as well as interest to learn mathematics, their achievement in
mathematics would improve significantly. Nonetheless, the analysis also revealed that
variables such as age, the type of school attended, students’ access to textbooks was
found to be independent on the student’s achievement in mathematics. The researcher
suggest that further work on the factors and their level of effect on the students’
achievement in mathematics should be undertaken in other parts of the country
Description:
A thesis in the Department of Mathematics Education,
Faculty of Science Education, submitted to the School of
Graduate Studies in partial fulfilment
of the requirements for the award of the degree of
Master of Philosophy
(Mathematics Education)
in the University of Education, Winneba.
AUGUST, 2020