Volume 14, 2025
Attitude towards Mathematics and Academic Engagement as Predictors of Primary School Pupils' Achievement in Mathematics
Simideleola T.RASHEED, Opeyemi, SHOAGA Ph.D, Temidayo, IHEANYICHUKWU, Anthonia Oluwakemi, OYINLOYE & Iretioluwa M.DAIRO
Abstract
Mathematics achievement of young children gives them the opportunity to advance in technology and science
related courses later in life.However, many pupils are not enthusiastic and well-disposed to learning
mathematics due to some factors such as teachers' attitudes, erroneous beliefs, teaching methods, learning
environment, students' engagement among others. This study explored academic engagement and attitude
towards mathematics to establish the inuence of these variables on pupils' mathematics achievement. Two
hundred and fty Basic six pupils were randomly selected from ten randomly selected public primary schools in
Ijebu North East LGA of Ogun State.Data were collected with the adapted version of Attitudes towards
mathematics inventory (ATMI), student engagement in mathematics scale (SEMS) and the Mathematics
Achievement Test (MAT).The reliabilitycoefcient of ATMI and SEMS were 0.61 and 0.74 respectively while the
reliability coefcient of the MAT was 0.55.Data were analysed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation
Coefcient and Multiple Regression Analysisat 0.05 level of signicance.The ndings demonstrated a strong
positive correlation between students' academic involvement and their prociency in mathematics.
Additionally, research demonstrated a positive correlation between mathematical achievement and attitude. It
was recommended that primary school pupils should attend mathematics class regularly, this is because regular
attendance at school will help pupils observe00 how mathematics questions are solved by teachers.Primary
school teachers should relate mathematics to real life experiences so as to make the children note the connection
between mathematics and their day-to-day activities.
Keywords
Academic Engagement, Attitude towards Mathematics, Mathematics Achievement
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