The purpose of this study is to investigate beliefs on mathematical problem solving among matriculation students. Five factors of students' beliefs on mathematical problem solving, i.e., difficult problems, steps, understanding, word problems and effort were investigated to predict factors that influence their mathematics achievement. The study sample consisted of 312 matriculation students from three matriculation colleges. The questionnaire was adapted from the Indiana Mathematics Beliefs Scale (IMBS) and a mathematics test. The results of the data analysis indicated that students have positive beliefs about mathematical problem solving. The findings showed that there is a positive significant relationship between the overall beliefs with mathematics achievement. Three sub-factors, i.e., difficult problems, steps and understanding were found to have positive significant relationship with mathematics achievement. Furthermore, by using the multiple regression analysis, it was revealed that difficult problems, steps and understanding contributed significantly to students' mathematics achievement.
This study identifies the success indicators of mathematical problem-solving performances among Malaysian matriculation students divided into four indicators: mathematical beliefs, mathematics attitudes, mathematics self-efficacy and metacognitive skills. For this purpose, 368 matriculation students from three matriculation colleges were selected as respondents using proportioned stratified sampling. This study utilized a descriptive correlational design approach. A set of questionnaires and a mathematics test were used as the instruments. Independent variables were measured using a questionnaire, while mathematical problem-solving performance was measured using a mathematics test. The findings show students had a high level in mathematics beliefs, attitude towards mathematics, mathematics self-efficacy and metacognitive skills. Statistical tests to determine success indicators predicting mathematical problem-solving performance revealed that mathematics self-efficacy does not contribute significantly to these variables and that metacognitive skills make the most decisive contribution, followed by mathematics attitude and mathematics beliefs. Hence, this study suggests that problem-solving should be included as an essential part of the mathematics matriculation syllabus to enable students to improve their problem-solving abilities.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.