ERIC Number: EJ1033059
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0020-739X
EISSN: N/A
The Image of Mathematics Held by Irish Post-Primary Students
Lane, Ciara; Stynes, Martin; O'Donoghue, John
International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, v45 n6 p879-891 2014
The image of mathematics held by Irish post-primary students was examined and a model for the image found was constructed. Initially, a definition for "image of mathematics" was adopted with image of mathematics hypothesized as comprising attitudes, beliefs, self-concept, motivation, emotions and past experiences of mathematics. Research focused on students studying ordinary level mathematics for the Irish Leaving Certificate examination--the final examination for students in second-level or post-primary education. Students were aged between 15 and 18 years. A questionnaire was constructed with both quantitative and qualitative aspects. The questionnaire survey was completed by 356 post-primary students. Responses were analysed quantitatively using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and qualitatively using the constant comparative method of analysis and by reviewing individual responses. Findings provide an insight into Irish post-primary students' images of mathematics and offer a means for constructing a theoretical model of image of mathematics which could be beneficial for future research.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Student Attitudes, Mathematics, Secondary School Students, Questionnaires, Qualitative Research, Statistical Analysis, Negative Attitudes, Positive Attitudes, Emotional Response, Self Esteem, Student Motivation, Student Experience, Influences, Mathematics Achievement, Correlation, Mixed Methods Research
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Ireland
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A