The purpose of the study was to predict mathematics achievement with self-confidence in mathematics, actual work effort in mathematics, and perceived importance of work effort in mathematics, and to investigate the gender differences with respect to those variables.
The study was conducted in Ankara, Turkey with 157 eight-grade students (87 boys, 70 girls) from a private school. The following measuring instruments were used:
(1) Confidence in Learning Mathematics Scale, (2) Effort as a Mediator of Mathematical Ability Scale, (3) Homeworks and Mathematics Achievement Tests. The validity and reliability of the measuring instruments were tested by the researcher.
The data of this study were analyzed by using Stepwise Multiple Regression Analysis and Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA). The results of the study indicated that (1) the combined effect of three predictor variables (Self-confidence, actual work effort, and perceived Importance of work effort) on students&rsquo / mathematics achievement was significant (R2adj=0.543). Girls&rsquo / mathematics achievement was significantly (R2adj=0.531) affected by three predictor variables (Self-confidence, actual work effort, and perceived importance of work effort). Whereas for boys, two variables (Self-confidence and actual work effort) were the predictors which had a significant combined effect on mathematics achievement (R2adj=0.539). (2) There was no statistically significant mean difference between girls and boys with respect to self-confidence, actual work effort, perceived importance of work effort and mathematics achievement.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:METU/oai:etd.lib.metu.edu.tr:http://etd.lib.metu.edu.tr/upload/2/12607242/index.pdf |
| Date | 01 April 2006 |
| Creators | Acikgoz, Salim |
| Contributors | Bulut, Safure |
| Publisher | METU |
| Source Sets | Middle East Technical Univ. |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | M.S. Thesis |
| Format | text/pdf |
| Rights | To liberate the content for METU campus |
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