Attitudes towards mathematics of Form 4 private school pupils

Abstract

This study investigates the attitudes towards mathematics of a sample of Form four pupils randomly selected from four Maltese Private Schools in the scholastic year 1998/99. The schools chosen due to a private feeling that they are four of the most convinient schools for such a study were De La Salle College, St. Aloysius College, Sacred Heart and St. Joseph schools. A questionnaire, which was divided into two sections is composed of 24 statements in the first section mainly based on different aspects such as the importance and utility of mathematics, the importance of the mathematics lessons and textbook, and on the mathematics topics and examinations. In the second section of the questionnaire, the pupils were asked to indicate their preference to 8 affective type questions. The questionnaire was given to 120 Form 4 boys and 120 Form 4 girls attending the above mentioned schools to be filled up. In addition, 10 Form 4 pupils from each of these schools were also interviewed to tease out reasons for some of the responses made in the questionnaire. The analysis of the data gathered by means of the questionnaire and the interviews helped the researcher to study the pupils' attitudes towards mathematics in a required, detailed and successful manner.