A study of attitudes among year 5 and year 6 children in state schools

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate children’s attitudes towards school and three academic subjects (Mathematics, English and Maltese). It also sought to investigate the contribution of child gender, grade level and school attended to the formation of these attitudes. This study was conducted through the use of a questionnaire survey among Year 5 and Year 6 children who attended three state primary schools in Malta. The possible relationship between attitudes and scholastic achievement was tentatively investigated. The sample consisted of 450 children, 194 children in Year 5 and 256 children in Year 6; 237 were boys and 213 were girls. Quantitative statistical methods were used to analyse the data collected. Results showed that girls in Year 5 have a more positive attitude than boys towards school, English and Maltese. On the other hand, girls in Year 6 have a more positive attitude than boys towards school, Mathematics, English and Maltese. In Year 5 and in Year 6, results indicated that there is no statistically significant relation between the children’s attitudes towards school and the three core subjects and their achievement. Possible reasons for these findings are discussed and some suggestions for further research are presented.