Factors Influencing Mathematics Achievement of University Students of Social Sciences

Alenka Brezavšček, Janja Jerebic, Gregor Rus and Anja Žnidaršič
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Alenka Brezavšček: Faculty of Organizational Sciences, University of Maribor, SI-4000 Kranj, Slovenia
Janja Jerebic: Faculty of Organizational Sciences, University of Maribor, SI-4000 Kranj, Slovenia
Gregor Rus: Faculty of Organizational Sciences, University of Maribor, SI-4000 Kranj, Slovenia
Anja Žnidaršič: Faculty of Organizational Sciences, University of Maribor, SI-4000 Kranj, Slovenia

Mathematics, 2020, vol. 8, issue 12, 1-24

Abstract: The paper aims to investigate the main factors influencing the mathematics achievement of social sciences university students in Slovenia. A conceptual model was derived where three categories of variables were taken into account: attitude towards mathematics and math anxiety, engagement in learning activities, and attitude towards involving technology in learning mathematics. Data were collected for seven consecutive academic years and analysed using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The results showed a very high coefficient of determination for mathematics achievement (0.801), indicating that variables “Perceived Level of Math Anxiety”, “Self-Engagement in Mathematics Course at University”, and “Perceived Usefulness of Technology in Learning Mathematics”, together, explain 80.1% of the total variance. Based on our findings, we can conclude that teaching in secondary school is a crucial determinant for success in mathematics at university. It is essential to identify the best methods for secondary school math teachers which will help them give future students better entry-level knowledge for universities. These methods will, hopefully, also improve the level of mathematics self-confidence, as well as lower the level of math anxiety, which all considerably affect the performance of students in university mathematics.

Keywords: mathematical education; good practices in mathematics education; mathematics achievement; influencing factors; university; social sciences; structural equation modelling (SEM) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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