Browsing by Author "Kgalalelo , Kenosi"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Attitudes towards Mathematics, Self-Efficacy, and Career Aspiration as Predictors of Mathematics Performance among Form Three Learners in the Southeast Region of Botswana
    (Kenyatta University, 2024-11) Kgalalelo , Kenosi
    Despite governments’ interventions and education being important to individual and national development, poor performance in mathematics has been persistently prevalent in the Southeast sub-region of Botswana. It is linked to several variables related to schools, teachers, parents, students and socio-economics status. However, no study has been done that focuses on the three predictor variables of mathematics in the Southeast sub-region of Botswana. Thus, this study sought to determine the relationship between attitudes towards mathematics, mathematical self-efficacy, career aspirations, and mathematical performance among form three students of Southeast sub-region. The specific study objectives were: to sought to establish the relationship between attitudes towards mathematics and mathematics performance among form three students in the Southeast sub-region of Botswana, to determine the relationship between mathematics self-efficacy and mathematics performance among Form three learners in the Southeast sub-region Botswana, to1find out1the relationship1between students' career aspirations and mathematics performance among form three learners in the Southeast sub-region, Botswana, to examine gender differences in students' attitudes, self-efficacy, and career aspirations for mathematics performance among Form three learners in the Southeast sub-region of Botswana and to establish a predictive model for mathematics achievement among form three learners in the Southeast sub-region of Botswana. The following theories guided the study: a) Affective, Behavioural, Cognitive (ABC) Model; b) Social Cognitive Theory; c) Social Cognitive Career Theory. A correlational research design was employed. The study targeted a population of 1320 form three students in 8 junior secondary schools in the Southeast sub-region, Botswana. Purposive sampling techniques were used to select form three. Furthermore, stratified random sampling techniques were utilized to choose a sample of four (4) schools and a sample size of 384 students. Moreover, simple random sampling was used to select 200 girls and 184 boys. Attitudes Towards Mathematics Inventory (ATMI), Mathematics Self-efficacy Scale, and STEM Career Interest Survey (STEM-CIS) were adapted as data collection instruments. Examination records served as a tool for measuring students' mathematics performance. In data analysis, both descriptive and inferential statistical procedures were used. The descriptive statistics involved percentages, frequencies, and tabulations, while inferential1statistics involved1Pearson Product Moment1correlation coefficient, multiple regression1and independent1t-test. The study hypotheses1were1tested at α = .05. The findings from the analysis revealed that attitudes towards mathematics had weak positive significant relationship with mathematics performance (r(374) = 0.33, p<.05). Further, Mathematics1self-efficacy1had a positive and significant1relationship with1mathematics performance (r(372) = 0.37, p<.05) and mathematics career aspiration had a positive and significant relationship with mathematics performance (r(374) = 0.38, p<.05) respectively. Attitudes towards mathematics was found to be the best predictor of mathematics performance scores, followed by mathematics self-efficacy and lastly mathematics career aspiration, which had a significant and positive predictive value β = 0,46, t(372) = 10.61, p = 0.00 and β = 0.31, t (372) = 5.33, p =0.00, β = 0.25, t(375) =4.28 respectively. It is hoped that the findings of this study would not only add to the existing knowledge in mathematics education and other research fields but also provide insights to policy makers and others stakeholders so as to formulate policies that would improve mathematics performance.