Relationship between self efficacy and mathematics performance among Zambian grade 11 pupils in Lusaka Urban
Date
2011-04-28
Authors
Chimfwembe, Gertrude
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Abstract
This study, on the relationship between self efficacy and mathematics
performance among grade eleven pupils was conducted in three high schools in
Lusaka urban, Lusaka province, Zambia. The study concentrated on investigating the relationship between self efficacy and mathematics
performance. The aim of undertaking the study was because School certificate
(SC) and general certificate examination (GCE) results in Zambia show
desperately poor performance in mathematics. For example, the 2000 SC and
GCE mathematics results showed that more than half of the pupils who sat for
mathematics examinations failed and this situation poses totally unacceptable
levels of pupil performance (Haambokoma,et al;2002:101).Leading research objectives were:To investigate if pupils at high school hold positive beliefs concerning their own self efficacy in mathematics; to find out if there is a difference between
higher and lower achievers in terms of mathematical self efficacy and to
investigate if there is a significant association between pupils' level of
mathematical self efficacy and their performance in mathematics.
In this study, 81 grade eleven pupils were sampled in three high schools in
Lusaka urban. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used. Data
collection included pupils completing the questionnaires, writing a test and
responding to a focus group discussion, as well as oral interviews with three
mathematics teachers, three heads of departments, a school manager and a
mathematics standards officer.
The study revealed that:
There is a variation in the level of self efficacy in the pupils with a good
number of pupils having a medium level of positive mathematical self
efficacy. There is a significant difference between higher and lower achievers.There is a positive correlation. A positive correlation indicated a significant
relationship between pupils' performance in the selected five topics and their
mathematical self efficacy. However, the teachers interviewed were of the
view that there is no relationship. They pointed out that culture, teacher
training curriculum and errors in some recommended Zambian textbooks are
the main factors leading to a no relationship between mathematics self
efficacy and pupil performance. But a standards officer (mathematics) said
that there is a relationship between self efficacy and mathematics performance.Based on the above noted findings of the study recommended that:
The Ministry of Education should ensure that Society is sensitized on the
importance of inculcating positive mathematics self efficacy beliefs in the
children. This can be done by exposing pupils to live or symbolic role
models, performance exposure, self instructed performance and performance
sensitization (a process through which aversive behaviour is paired with
pleasant or relaxing experience), histories of past failures should be narrated
to children. Furthermore pupils should be exposed to symbolic exposures
such as creating environments which are similar to examination
atmospheres. This will allow children to practice in dealing with stress.
Techniques such as relaxation techniques should also be made available to
pupils.The Zambia Association of Mathematics Educators (ZAME) should educate
its teachers and other stakeholders in mathematics to stop finger -pointing
and running away from the problem of poor performance of pupils in
mathematics. Instead, teachers and other stake holders should aim at
instilling positive mathematical self efficacy in their pupils. What should be
born in their minds is that, pupils' self efficacy beliefs towards mathematics
teaching and learning play an important role in national and individual
development.Curriculum Development Centre (CDC) should design a curriculum that has
emphasis on the three domains namely, cognitive, psychomotor and
affective. Currently, the mathematics curriculum puts less emphasis on the
affective part of learning
Description
Keywords
Self Efficacy , Mathematics Performance