DOI: 10.5176/2251-1911_CMCGS48
Authors: H. W. Ker, S. M. Ho, M. C. Lee and K. K. Huang
Abstract: Research addressed the importance of mathematics education for the students’ to learn mathematics and its interdisciplinary knowledge. However, factors like time spent doing mathematics homework, self-confidence in mathematics learning, values on mathematics, and positive attitudes toward mathematics received less attention. This paper utilized TIMSS 2007 data to conduct a global comparative analysis on different levels of these four factors and their relationship with mathematics achievement. The countries in comparison are Chinese Taipei, Singapore and USA. Results show that although Chinese Taipei students ranked top in international assessment, they tend to have low self-confidence, place low values and with less positive attitude toward mathematics. Compared with Chinese Taipei, Singapore students spend more time on doing homework and tend to have positive attitudes toward mathematics, place good values on mathematics as a way of improving their future and lives, and have self-confidence in learning mathematics. United States students tend to have high self-confidence and positive attitudes toward mathematics but spend less time on homework. Among these four factors, self-confidence in learning mathematics has the strongest relationship with mathematics achievement.
Keywords: Index of Time Spent Doing Mathematics Homework, Index of Students’ Positive Affect Toward Mathematics, Index of Students Valuing Mathematics, Index of Students’ Self-Confidence in Learning Mathematics
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