Students’ Perception towards Mathematics and Its Effects on Academic Performance
John Ekow Hagan
Department of Mathematics and ICT, Methodist College of Education, Akim-Oda, Ghana.
Solomon Amoaddai
Department of Mathematics and ICT, Methodist College of Education, Akim-Oda, Ghana.
Vincentia Terkwor Lawer
Department of Mathematics Education, University of Education, Winneba, Ghana.
Evans Atteh *
Department of Mathematics and ICT, Wiawso College of Education, Sefwi Wiawso, Ghana.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: The research sought to find out the perception of students towards Mathematics and how it affects their academic attainment in a Ghanaian context.
Study Design: Descriptive survey design was used for the study.
Methodology: The main instrument used for the study was questionnaire. The sample size for the study comprised of students selected from the three SHSs in Kumasi metropolis using purposive sampling approach. The sample size for the students consisted of 297 students selected by stratified sampling of which 180 were males and 117 were females.
Results: The students have positive perception towards mathematics though they see it to be difficult in a sense that it is important as it is used in their daily lives. The relationship between perception and students Mathematics performance in the study was very weak and negatively related.
Conclusion: From the study it can be concluded that students’ perception towards mathematics has no influence or effect on their academic performance in Ghanaian senior high schools. It is recommended that students’ positive perception towards Mathematics must be sustained and improved by teachers and headmasters.
Keywords: Mathematics, perception, academic performance, teaching and learning.