A Comparative Analysis of Male and Female Students’ Attitudes Toward Mathematics in Secondary School
Chapter One
OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The objectives of the study are;
- To ascertain students’ attitude toward mathematics based on gender classification
- To investigate differences in performance between male and female students in senior secondary school’s mathematics.
- To compare the achievement of male and female students in the subject of mathematics at higher secondary school level with respect to teachers’ teaching experience
CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE
INTRODUCTION
Literature search indicate that students performances both male and female generally have been very encouraging. It is in the sense that still educational gap in Mathematics exist among male and female students. However, tremendous number of studies has on gender disparities and other academic achievement, but here are relatively few studies in Mathematics performance in Nigeria.
MALE STUDENTS’ PERFORMANCE IN MATHEMATICS
In review, many educational activities have shows that male’s performance better in different aspect of learning and other life Endeavour. Researchers have been conducted from various field and recorded as saying males attended schools / institutions and even perform better than their female counterparts. National summary of primary and post primary school statistics (2005-2014) has shown that more males attended schools than that of females. And, also this may lead to female students to become backward in studying Mathematics as the “key necessary in locking a majority of important career opportunities available for our most intelligent and academically able students” (Rekdal 1984). Katsina State Education Resource Centre (ERC) 2006 recorded: Males Students attended school more than female students in the state. Junior Secondary School Students distribution according to zones for the state junior Secondary Certificate Examination in to Senior Secondary School {2006} revealed that out of the sum of 36,282 pupils 21,482 were males while 9,758 were females. This clearly shows that males performed better since from the first stage in attending schooling. Muktar, B. and Iliyasu (2006)” revealed that male student performed higher than that of female students in Mathematics Achievement test.” Ike (1976) commenting on the poor performance of candidates in the 1976 West African School Certificate Examination observed that out of the 92,000 candidates who sat for the examination, 21,000 offered Science subject and only 30% qualified for the statement of result. He further expressed his dissatisfaction in the general performance particularly in Science and Mathematics. However, he failed to indicate some of the possible factors that might be responsible for that enrolment of males are higher than females in WAEC technical subjects 1986 – 1988. His analysis has shown that out of 24,226 students, males students were 22,385 and 1,841 students were females. Rukayyatu in Komolofe (1996) revealed that from (1987 – 1988), 1, 770,783 students were males and 23 807,711 students were females sat for WAEC Science and Mathematics. However, this analysis shows that males participated in Science and Mathematics more than females. Also enrolment in AsicoKauranNamoda from (2005 – 2006) the collage graduated students out of 286 students 225 students were male while only 61 students were females. National Youth Service Corps Deployment from ( 2005-2014), the total Corps was 951,402 members, but 540,611 were males while 410,791 were females, this analysis indicates that still males are far educationally than their females’ counterparts. Ben bow and Stanley’s (1982) study of adolescents in the study of mathematically precious youth (SMPY) concluded that males significant out performed females on the college Boards scholastic aptitude test in Mathematical part (SAT-m). More recent studies concerning gender different in quantitative performance are mixed. Man reported that gender gap is narrowing (Brophy, 1985, Freidman, 1989, Marsh, 1989, Hoys and Slate, 1993), while other reported not only that males consistently out-perform females at the highest end of the Mathematics ability continuously. Muhammad, et al (2009) in Familokum, (1982), in his comparative studies of the academic achievement in Mathematics and chemistry students of the two Federal Government College in Kano State showed that boys were higher achiever in both the two subjects than girls of the same school. However, the uniformity or otherwise of the environment in which the study was carried out not highlighted. Nwagwu, (1977) in his studies of sex difference in Mathematics achievement and attitude in secondary schools in Katsina State, took a cross section data of 400 random sample comprising of 200 males and 200 females of final year student of nine secondary schools in Katsina State. He obtained information on Mathematics achievement and attitude toward learning of Mathematics the determining the level of significance between the different of mean of the score of the males and the females in an achievement test as well as attitude test. He concluded that males performed better than females. Moir (1989 p.7) in her book titled:
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research design
The researcher used descriptive research survey design in building up this project work the choice of this research design was considered appropriate because of its advantages of identifying attributes of a large population from a group of individuals. The design was suitable for the study as the study a comparative analysis of male and female student’s attitude towards mathematics at secondary school
Sources of data collection
Data were collected from two main sources namely:
(i)Primary source and
(ii)Secondary source
Primary source:
These are materials of statistical investigation which were collected by the research for a particular purpose. They can be obtained through a survey, observation questionnaire or as experiment; the researcher has adopted the questionnaire method for this study.
Secondary source:
These are data from textbook Journal handset etc. they arise as byproducts of the same other purposes. Example administration, various other unpublished works and write ups were also used.
Population of the study
Population of a study is a group of persons or aggregate items, things the researcher is interested in getting information on a comparative analysis of male and female students attitude towards mathematics at secondary school. 200 staff of selected schools in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state was selected randomly by the researcher as the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
PRESENTATION ANALYSIS INTERPRETATION OF DATA
Introduction
Efforts will be made at this stage to present, analyze and interpret the data collected during the field survey. This presentation will be based on the responses from the completed questionnaires. The result of this exercise will be summarized in tabular forms for easy references and analysis. It will also show answers to questions relating to the research questions for this research study. The researcher employed simple percentage in the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain a comparative analysis of male and female students attitude towards mathematics at secondary school. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenge of male and female student’s attitude towards mathematics at secondary school
Summary
This study was on a comparative analysis of male and female student’s attitude towards mathematics at secondary school. Three objectives were raised which included: To ascertain students’ attitude toward mathematics based on gender classification, to investigate differences in performance between male and female students in senior secondary school’s mathematics, to compare the achievement of male and female students in the subject of mathematics at higher secondary school level with respect to teachers’ teaching experience. In line with these objectives, two research hypotheses were formulated and two null hypotheses were posited. The total population for the study is 200 staffs of selected secondary schools in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made principals, vice principal adm, senior staff and junior staff were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
Conclusion
The following conclusion was drawn from this study based on data analysis and interpretation of results. Both male and female students have almost the same attitude towards mathematics. The attitude of students towards mathematics did not depend upon sex. Also, both male and female students had the same opinion on the items of the rating scale as there was no significant difference in their attitudes towards mathematics
Recommendation
Based on the findings of this study, it is hereby recommended that;
- Since gender does not affect the attitude of students towards mathematics, teaching and learning of mathematics should be done freely among the students of different sexes.
- The belief that mathematics is a male or female dominated subject should be discouraged by teachers and guidance counsellors in secondary schools.
REFERENCES
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