Mathematics plays a key role in bolstering a country’s knowledge economy. Australia’s knowledge economy is negatively affected by the underachievement of Australian school students in geometry. Research indicates a continuing decline in student performance in geometry and a distinct lack of geometrical knowledge and understanding on the part of students and teachers. To address this issue a theory of success in geometry that focussed on background variables and attitude, was developed. In the theory it was hypothesised that success in geometry can be understood in terms of predictor variables and that attitude mediates the effects of the variables on success in geometry. A model of success in geometry was developed to systematically determine the relationships of the variables. Trainee teachers from the University of Western Sydney (n = 224) participated in the survey. Using Confirmatory Factor Analysis the use of one or two attitude scales was determined as were the items in the scales. Using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) the relationships between the background factors (age, education, gender, left/right brain preference) on success in geometry (van Hiele level) mediated by attitude were determined. The evidence, however, suggests that attitude is not only correlated with the measures of success in geometry (van Hiele levels) but that it may also be a predictor of success in geometry. It was also hypothesised that attitude was composed of three analytically distinct factors (affective, cognitive and behavioural). The evidence suggests that this hypothesis cannot be rejected. This is an important finding as previous research has not been empirically able to distinguish these factors. In order to improve the success of Australian school students in geometry and assist teachers to succeed and consequently improve Australia’s knowledge economy, the present research indicates that: all trainee teachers should have their van Hiele level of geometry understanding determined; appropriate geometry courses should be a mandatory part of the curriculum for all pre-service teachers whose van Hiele level is less than three; all trainee teachers should have a van Hiele level of three or four before they commence teaching; appropriate changes to the curriculum of trainee teachers should be made so that their stored general evaluative process produces a positive attitude to geometry, especially in female students; school students who intend to pursue a teaching career should complete mathematics courses with a geometry content. / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ADTP/181748 |
| Date | January 2004 |
| Creators | Brodie, John Hector, University of Western Sydney, College of Arts, School of Education |
| Source Sets | Australiasian Digital Theses Program |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
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