HomeJournal of Interdisciplinary Perspectivesvol. 2 no. 6 (2024)

Attitude in Learning as a Mediator for Engagement and Academic Performance in Mathematics

Raymund E Carcueva

Discipline: Education

 

Abstract:

This study specifically focuses on mathematics, as it plays a crucial role in educational settings and is a fundamental subject for academic success. By examining the mediating effect of attitude on learning and its relationship with engagement, the research aims to understand how these variables contribute to academic performance in mathematics. The researcher used adapted survey questionnaires to collect information from 148 randomly selected respondents using the "Fishbowl Draw Method." Descriptive statistics, the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient, and regression analysis were employed as statistical tools to analyze the data. These analyses indicated that students exhibited a high level of engagement, academic performance, and attitude toward learning mathematics. A significant relationship was found between student engagement and academic performance in mathematics, as well as between student engagement and attitude toward learning. However, the relationship between attitude toward learning and academic performance was not significant. Moreover, the impact of student engagement on academic performance was observed solely through its direct influence and not via an indirect effect stemming from attitudes toward learning. Accordingly, considering that attitude toward learning does not mediate the relationship between engagement and academic performance, students should focus on strengthening their classroom engagement to improve their academic performance. Future researchers are recommended to investigate other variables such as teaching methods and students' learning styles as mediators.



References:

  1. Abd Algani, Y., & Eshan, J. (2019). Reasons and suggested solutions for low-level academic achievement in mathematics. International e-Journal of Educational Studies, 3(6), 181-190. https://doi.org/10.31458/iejes.604884
  2. Abd Rahman, H., Khalid, Z. M., Ismail, N. M., Kamisan, N. A. B., Norrulashikin, S.M., Nor, S. R. M., & Hamdan, M. F. (2022). Statistical Analysis on Students’ Evaluation and Students’ Final Exam Marks in Undergraduate Mathematical Courses at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia. International Journal of Advanced Research in Future Ready Learning and Education, 27(1), 1-8. https://www.akademiabaru.com/submit/index.php/frle/index
  3. Abu-Bader, S. (2021, March 6). Statistical Mediation Analysis Using the Sobel Test and Hayes SPSS Process Macro. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3799204
  4. Al-Zoubi, S. M., & Younes, M. A. B. (2015). Low academic achievement causes and results. Theory and Practice in Language Studies, 5(11), 2262. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17507/tpls.0511.09
  5. Asempapa RS (2022) Examining practicing teachers‘ knowledge and attitudes toward mathematical modeling. Int J Educ Math Sci Technol (IJEMST) 10(2):272–292. https://doi.org/10.46328/ijemst.2136
  6. Awadalla, S., Davies, E. B., & Glazebrook, C. (2020). A longitudinal cohort study to explore the relationship between depression, anxiety and academic performance among Emirati university students. BMC psychiatry, 20, 1-10.
  7. Ayub, A. F. M., Yunus, A. S. M., Mahmud, R., Salim, N. R., & Sulaiman, T. (2017, January). Differences in students’ mathematics engagement between gender and between rural and urban schools. In AIP Conference Proceedings (Vol. 1795, No. 1, p. 020025). AIP Publishing LLC. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4972169
  8. A. El Refae, G., Kaba, A. & Eletter, S. (2021). The Impact of Demographic Characteristics on Academic Performance: Face-to-Face Learning Versus Distance Learning Implemented to Prevent the Spread of COVID-19. International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 22(1), 91–110. https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v22i1.5031
  9. Baier, A. L., Kline, A. C., & Feeny, N. C. (2020). Therapeutic alliance as a mediator of change: A systematic review and evaluation of research. Clinical psychology review, 82, 101921.      https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S027273582030104            
  10. Baron, R. M., & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator–mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 5, 1173-1182. https://doi.org/10.1037//00223514.51.6.1173
  11. Bernardo,  J.  (2020).  PH  ranks  last  among  58 countries  in  Grade 4 math, science: Study. ABS-CBN News. https://lilark.com/NWBNk
  12. Bujang, M. A., Omar, E. D., & Baharum, N. A. (2018). A review on sample size determination for Cronbach’s alpha test: a simple guide for researchers. The Malaysian journal of medical sciences: MJMS, 25(6), 85. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6422571/
  13. Bujang, M. A., Omar, E. D., & Baharum, N. A. (2018). A review on sample size determination for Cronbach’s alpha test: a simple guide for researchers. The Malaysian journal of medical sciences: MJMS, 25(6), 85. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6422571/
  14. Chand, S., Chaudhary, K., Prasad, A., & Chand, V. (2021). Perceived causes of students’ poor performance in mathematics: A case study at Ba and Tavua secondary schools. Frontiers in Applied Mathematics and Statistics, 7, 614408. https://doi.org/10.3389/fams.2021.614408
  15. Chen, J. (2021). Arithmetic mean definition. Investopedia. Retrieved from https://www.investopedia.com/terms/a/arithmeticmean.asp
  16. Davadas, S. D., & Lay, Y. F. (2018). Factors Affecting Students’ Attitude toward Mathematics: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach. Eurasia Journal of         Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 14(1), 517-529. https://doi.org/10.12973/ejmste/80356
  17. Davis, J. A. (1971). Elementary survey analysis. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
  18. Delfino, A. P. (2019). Student engagement and academic performance of students of Partido State University. Asian Journal of University Education, 15(1), n1. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ1222588
  19. Department of Education. (2015). Policy guidelines on classroom assessment for the k to 12 basic. education program. Retrieved from https://www.deped.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/DO_s2015_08.pdf
  20. Durongkaveroj, W. (2023). Recent Developments in Basic Education in Thailand: Issues and Challenges. Journal of Southeast Asian Economies, 39, S20–          S33. https://www.jstor.org/stable/27211214
  21. Eagly, A. H. , & Chaiken, S. (1993). The psychology of attitudes (1st ed.). Fort Worth, TX: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich College. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajpy.12149
  22. Fredricks, J. A., Wang, M. T., Schall Linn, J., Hofkens, T. L., Sung, H. C., Parr, A.K., & Allerton, J. J. (2016). Using qualitative methods to develop a survey measure of math and science engagement. Learning and Instruction. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S095947521630003 
  23. Galabo, N. R., Abellanosa, G. G., & Gempes, G. P. (2018). The Level of Readiness in Mathematics of First Year High School Students of Cluster 6 Tugbok Secondary Schools: Basis for Intervention Program. International Journal of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences, 4(1). https://dx.doi.org/10.20469/ijhss.4.10005-1
  24. García, T., Rodríguez, C., González-Castro, P., Torrance, M., and Gonzalez- Pienda, J. A. (2016a). Elementary students’ metacognitive processes and postperformance calibration on mathematical problem-solving tasks. Metacogn. Learn. 11, 139–170. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11409-015-9139-1
  25. Gopal, K., Salim, N. R., & Ayub, A. F. M. (2018, November). Influence of self-efficacy and attitudes towards statistics on undergraduates’ statistics engagement in a Malaysian public university. In Journal of Physics: Conference Series (Vol. 1132, No. 1, p. 012042). IOP Publishing. https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/1742-6596/1132/1/012042/meta
  26. Hwang, S., & Son, T. (2021). Students’ Attitude toward Mathematics and its Relationship with Mathematics Achievement. Journal of Education and E- Learning Research,          8(3), 272–280. https://doi.org/10.20448/journal.509.2021.83.272.280
  27. Kasimu, O., & Imoro, M. (2017). Students‟ attitudes towards mathematics: the case of private and public Junior High Schools in the East Mamprusi District, Ghana.  IOSR Journal of Research & Method in Education (IOSR-JRME), 7(5), 38-43. https://tinyurl.com/2anxs8aj
  28. Kenton, W. (2022). What is the Pearson coefficient? Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/Pearsoncoefficient.asp
  29. Lijie, Z., Zongzhao, M., & Ying, Z. (2020). The influence of mathematics attitude on academic achievement: Intermediary role of mathematics learning engagement. Jurnal Cendekia: Jurnal Pendidikan Matematika [Scholar’s Journal: Journal of Mathematics Education], 4(2), 460-467. https://doi.org/10.31004/cendekia.v4i2.253
  30. Mabena, N., Mokgosi, P. N., & Ramapela, S. S. (2021). Factors contributing topoor learner performance in mathematics: A case of selected schools in Mpumalanga province, South Africa. Problems of Education in the 21st Century, 79(3), 451.
  31. MacKinnon, D. P., Fairchild, A. J., & Fritz, M. S. (2007). Mediation Analysis. Annual Review of Psychology, 58(1), 593–614.  https://doi.org/:10.1146/annurev.psych.58.110405.085542
  32. Malipot M. (2023). 2022 PISA results a 'clear indication' that PH education system is in ‘worst state’---PBED. https://mb.com.ph/2023/12/5/pisa-2022-nosignificant-improvements-seen-in-ph-students-performance
  33. Mazana MY, Montero CS, Casmir RO (2018). Investigating students’ attitude towards learning mathematics. Int Electron J Math Educ 14(1). https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/3997  
  34. Modan, N. (2023, December 5). PISA results show math performance declined globally amid COVID-19. K-12 Dive. https://www.k12dive.com/news/PISA-2022-math-decline-covid
  35. Nayir, K. F. (2015). The relationship between students’ engagement level and their attitudes toward school. The Anthropologist, 20(1-2), 50-61. https://doi.org/10.1080/09720073.2015.11891723
  36. Ngussa, B. M., & Mbuti, E. E. (2017). The influence of humour on learners’ attitude and mathematics achievement: A case of secondary schools in Arusha City, Tanzania. Journal of Educational Research, 2(3), 170-181. https://www.ijrdo.org/index.php/er/article/view/165
  37. PBEd (7 December 2023). PBEd Statement on the 2022 Programme for International Students Assessments (PISA) results. https://www.pbed.ph/news
  38. Quezada, V. D. (2020). Difficulties and Performance in Mathematics Competences: Solving Problems with Derivatives. Int. J. Eng. Pedagogy, 10(4), 35-53.
  39. Preacher,  K.  J.  &  Hayes,  A.  F.  (2008).  Asymptotic  and resampling strategies for assessing and  comparing indirect effects  in  multiple  mediator  models.  Behavior Research Methods. Vol. 40, (3): p. 879-891. https://doi.org/10.3758/BRM.40.3.879
  40. Schleicher, A. (2019). PISA 2018: Insights and Interpretations. OECD Publishing. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED601150 
  41. Schnitzler, K., Holzberger, D., & Seidel, T. (2021). All better than being disengaged: Student engagement patterns and their relations to academic         self-concept and achievement. European Journal of Psychology of Education, 36, 627-652. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10212-020-00500-6
  42. Shrout, P. E., & Bolger, N. (2002). Mediation in experimental and nonexperimental studies: new procedures and recommendations. Psychological methods, 7(4), 422. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2002-11349-006
  43. Subia, G. S., Salangsang, L. G., & Medrano, H. B. (2018). Attitude and performance in mathematics I of bachelor of elementary education students: A correlational analysis. American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences (ASRJETS), 39(1), 206-213. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/235050513.pdf
  44. Urquijo, I., & Extremera, N. (2017). Academic satisfaction at university: The relationship between emotional intelligence and academic engagement. Electronic Journal of Research in Educational Psychology, 15(3), 553-573. doi:10.14204/ejrep.43.16064
  45. Varaidzai Makondo, P., & Makondo, D. (2020). Causes of poor academicperformance in mathematics at ordinary level: A case of Mavuzani High School, Zimbabwe. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention (IJHSSI), 9(1), 10-18.
  46. Wang, M. T., Fredricks, J. A., Ye, F., Hofkens, T. L., & Linn, J. S. (2016). The math and science engagement scales: Scale development, validation, and psychometric properties. Learning and Instruction, 43, 16-26. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959475216300081