Determinants of Mathematics Performance of Bachelor of Secondary

Education major in Mathematics Students of Polytechnic

University of the Philippines

Abstract

The main purpose of the study was to establish the predictive validity
of mathematics teachers’ attributes and attitude towards mathematics subject
as determinants of the students’ mathematics performance among Bachelor of
Secondary Education major in Mathematics students from selected
Campuses of Polytechnic University of the Philippines. Findings of the study
showed that teachers handling College Algebra, Number Theory, and
Spherical Trigonometry subjects have outstanding teacher attributes.
Likewise, teachers handling Advanced Algebra, Plane Trigonometry,
Differential Calculus, and Mathematical Logic have very satisfactory ratings.
In terms of attitude towards mathematics, students possess positive attitude
towards all mathematics subjects covered in the study. In terms of
mathematics performance, students have satisfactory performance in all
mathematics subjects except in Advanced Algebra with a fair performance.It
was revealed that none of the dimensions of mathematics teachers’ attributes
and dimensions of attitudes towards mathematics significantly determined
the performances of the students in College Algebra, Plane Trigonometry,
Spherical Trigonometry, and Mathematical Logic. Furthermore, teachers’
personal attributes and enjoyment of mathematics were significant
determinants of Advanced Algebra performance. Likewise, teachers’ personal
attributes was revealed as a significant determinant of Plane Geometry
performance. Lastly, self confidence with mathematics was a significant
determinant of performances in Differential Calculus and Number Theory.

Keywords: attitude, teacher attributes, performance, mathematics, determinants

Introduction

Given the emergentsocial demand for a more mathematically proficient work

force, proficiency is regarded as a necessary component for success in today’s world. To
ensure proficiency, educational institutions may need to changeround their instructional
approaches to teaching. Understanding the effect of school, classroom, teacher and self-
efficacy on achievement may lead to instructional practices that may increase the
percentage of students choosing to pursue related majors.
Creating a climate for learning is probably the most important and most difficult
task a teacher faces, but it can be even more difficult for beginning teachers. As former U.S.
Department of Education teacher-in-residence Mary Beth Blegan says, "Setting the
classroom environment is the key. For a new teacher that means pretending that you know
what you're doing. The most important action an effective teacher takes at the beginning of
the year is creating a climate for learning.”
Efforts for the advancement of mathematics teaching over the last decade has
degenerated into an argument about traditional or modern teaching methodologies, the
kind of instructional tools to be used, including or exiling calculators, ways to develop
teacher training, and the best sequencing of mathematics courses in the curriculum. Far
less attention has been directed to the exploration of students’ attitudes. Although there is
a body of research about attitudes toward mathematics, most of it is concerned only with
anxiety. Success or failure in mathematics performance is greatly determined by
personal beliefs. Regardless of the teaching method used, students are likely to exert effort
according to the effects they anticipate, which is regulated by personal beliefs about their
abilities, the importance they attach to mathematics, enjoyment of the subject matter, and
the motivation to succeed.
As teachers, struggle with reform to improve students’ academic performance, their
concerns must encompass more than instructional change. The fundamental core of
effective teaching of mathematics combines an understanding of how children learn, how to
promote that learning and how to plan for and assess that learning on a daily basis.

Background of the Study

The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) is a government educational

institution governed by Republic Act Number 8292 known as the Higher Education
Modernization Act of 1997, and its Implementing Rules and Regulations contained in the
Commission on Higher Education Memorandum Circular No. 4, series 1997. PUP is one of
the country's highly competent educational institutions. PUP is a public, non-sectarian,
non-profit institution of higher learning primarily tasked with harnessing the tremendous
human resources potential of the nation by improving the physical, intellectual and
material well-being of the individual through higher occupational, technical and
professional instruction and training in the applied arts and sciences related to the fields of
commerce, business administration, and technology.
The University is committed in giving qualified and talented individuals access to
quality and responsive education to support them in the achievement of their dreams and
improvement of their lives.
One of the undergraduate programs offered by PUP is the Bachelor of Secondary
Education major in Mathematics (BSEDMT). It is a four-year undergraduate program
designed to meet the country’s need for teachers in mathematics education in the secondary
level. This program provides students with the theoretical insights, specialized knowledge
of educational technology, teaching-learning applications, and integration of values that
will enhance professional and personal development. The BSEDMT program is offered by
different PUP Campuses namely PUP Bansud Campus, PUP Lopez Campus,PUP San Juan
Campus, PUP Santa Maria Campus, PUP San Pedro Campus,PUP Sta. Mesa (Main)
Campus, PUP Sta. Rosa Campus, and PUP Sto. Tomas Campus.
As future Mathematics teachers, it is very essential to understand how students
learn Mathematics and how Mathematics learning can be affected by the teachers and
students’ attitude towards Mathematics.

Theoretical Framework

A teacher is a reflective practitioner who continually evaluates the effects of his

choices and actions on others (students, parents, and other professionals in the learning
community) and who actively seeks out opportunities to grow professionally. A good teacher
is one who has the ability to learn as much from the students as he learns from himself. In
an effort to many implications to these needs of students, this teacher spends much time
evaluating the implications of his teaching decisions in the classroom. This is the mark of a
reflective practitioner. Such self – reflection leads to greatest knowledge about the
students, the subject matter being taught and the act of teaching.
This research is anchored with three theories namely Social Learning Theory,
Skinner’s Theory of Classroom Management, and Socio-Cultural Theory of Learning. The
Social Learning Theory of Bandura (1977) suggests that individuals can learn from
observing others receive consequences. It emphasizes the importance of observing and
modeling the behaviors, attitudes and emotional reactions of others. According to Bandura,
“Learning would be exceedingly laborious not to mention hazardous, if people had to rely
solely on the effects of their own actions to inform them what to do. Fortunately most
human behavior is learned observationally through modeling: from observing others one
forms an idea of how new behaviors are performed and on later occasions this coded
information serves as a guide for action.”
On the other hand, Skinner’s Theory of Classroom Management (Skinner, 1953)
accentuates that the frequent use of reinforcements or rewards modify and influence
student’s behavior and attitude. Skinner believes that the goal of psychology, as it relates to
education, should be to find ways to make education enjoyable and effective for all students.
His learning theory relies on the assumption that the best way to modify behavior was to
modify the environment. Skinner’s primary contribution to behavioral management
philosophy has been from his research on operant conditioning and reinforcement
schedules. An operant is a behavior that acts on the surrounding environment to produce a
consequence. As the result of the consequence, the operant’s likelihood of recurring is
affected. The operant is said to be reinforced if the consequence increases the likelihood of
the behavior’s occurrence.
The Socio-Cultural Theory of Learning of Barbara Jaworski (2004) suggested that
all learners are seen as members of a defined culture and their identity with this culture
determines what they will encode about the world and the ways in which they will interpret
information. This means that both teachers and students process information that is
shaped by various socio-cultural factors such as social class, religion, gender, family
background, and language group. Teachers teach based on certain beliefs they have about
teaching and learning, about what to teach and how to teach. Learners on the other hand
came to class with prior knowledge about their lives and a particular belief system shaped
by their own socio-cultural context.
Modeling and observing the behaviors, attitudes and emotional reactions of students
are very essential to understand the learning process of the students. This has been pointed
out through the Social Learning Theory of Bandura (1977). Likewise, Skinner’s Theory of
Classroom Management (1953) emphasizes the importance of finding ways to make
education enjoyable and effective for all students. On the other hand, the Socio-Cultural
Theory of Learning of Barbara Jaworski (2004) accentuated that teachers and students
process information that is shaped by socio-cultural factors. These theories anchored and
supported the goal of the research study to look in to the possible impact of the students’
attitude towards their Mathematics subjects and the attributes of their Mathematics
teachers, with respect to their Mathematics learning as observed with their Mathematics
performance.

Conceptual Framework

INDEPENDENT VARIABLES DEPENDENT VARIABLES

TEACHER ATTRIBUTES
1. Personal
2. Professional
MATHEMATICS
PERFORMANCE

in
STUDENT’S ATTITUDE
TOWARDS College Algebra
MATHEMATICS
Advanced Algebra
1. Value of Mathematics Plane Trigonometry
2. Enjoyment of Plane Geometry
Mathematics Differential Calculus
3. Self Confidence with Spherical Trigonometry
Mathematics Number Theory
4. Motivation with Mathematical Logic
Mathematics

Figure 1. Research Paradigm

The conceptual framework of this study is schematically presented in Figure 1. The

study intended to look which among Mathematics teachers’ attributes and student’s
attitude towards Mathematics are significant determinants of the Mathematics
performance of the students. Mathematics performance is the dependent variable while
teacher attributes and attitude towards Mathematics are treated as the independent
variables. Teacher attributes are characterized by the personal and professional attributes
of the Mathematics teachers. On the other hand, students’ attitudes towards Mathematics
subjects were measure in terms of value and enjoyment of Mathematics, and self-confidence
and motivation with Mathematics.

The Problem

This study aimed to determine the predictive validity of Mathematics teachers’

attributes and student’s attitude towards Mathematics, as determinants of the
Mathematics performance of the BSEDMT students from three selected campuses of PUP.
Specifically, the study sought to answer the following questions:
1. What is the level of the Mathematics teacher’s attributes in terms of the following:
1.1 Personal Attributes;
1.2 Professional Attributes; and
1.3 Over-all Teacher Attributes?
2. What is the attitude of the BSEDMT students in their Mathematics subjects in
terms of the following:
2.1 Value of Mathematics Subject;
2.2 Enjoyment of Mathematics Subject;
2.3 Self Confidence with Mathematics Subject;
2.4 Motivation with Mathematics Subject; and
2.5 Over-all Attitude towards Mathematics Subject?
3. What is the mathematics performance of the BSEDMT students in the following
subjects?
3.1 College Algebra;
3.2 Advanced Algebra;
3.3 Plane Trigonometry;
3.4 Plane Geometry;
3.5 Differential Calculus;
3.6 Spherical Trigonometry;
3.7 Number Theory; and
3.8 Mathematical Logic.
4. Which of the following variables are significant determinants of the Mathematics
performance of the students?
4.1 Mathematics Teachers’ Personal Attributes;
4.2 Mathematics Teachers’ Professional Attributes;
4.3 Value of Mathematics Subject;
4.4 Enjoyment of Mathematics Subject;
4.5 Self Confidence with Mathematics Subject; and
 4.6 Motivation with Mathematics Subject.

Review of Literature and Studies

Attitudes are psychological constructs theorized to be composed of emotional,

cognitive, and behavioral components. Attitudes serve as functions including social
expressions, value expressive, utilitarian, and defensive functions, for the people who hold
them (Newbill, 2005). To change attitudes, the new attitudes must serve the same function
as the old one. Instructional design can create instructional environments to effect attitude
change. In the greater realm of social psychology, attitudes are typical classified with
affective domain, and are part of the larger concept of motivation (Greenwald, 1989).
Attitudes are connected to Bandura’s (1977) social cognitive learning theory as one of the
personal factors that affect learning.
Improving student behavior and academic performance generally requires changing
the student’s attitude. Change may require moving individuals and organizations along a
continuum from “at risk” to “safe” to “thriving.” This process takes time to accomplish.
Other researchers suggest that students may find Mathematics to be simply
unappealing or socially unacceptable, although they may actually have high aptitude. In
any case, it is crucial that any investigation of attitudes be assessed with an instrument
that has good technical characteristics if research conclusions are to be meaningful. The
relationship of affect to course selection, performance, achievement, and cognitive processes
must be based solidly on a valid, reliable measure of attitudes. Attitude scales must
withstand factor analysis, tap important dimensions of attitudes, and require a minimum
amount of time for administration.
Finding a need for a shorter instrument with a straightforward factor structure,
the Attitudes Toward Mathematics Inventory (ATMI) was developed. Martha Tapia and
George E. Marsh II of Berry College, GA and The University of Alabama (2004) designed
the Attitudes Toward Mathematics Inventory (ATMI) to investigate the underlying
dimensions of attitudes toward mathematics. The subjects were 545 high school students,
302 boys and 243 girls, enrolled in mathematics high school classes, including 135
freshmen, 153 sophomores, 168 juniors, 84 seniors, and five 8th-grade students. Only
students taking mathematics were included in the sample.
The 40-items of the ATMI were constructed in the domain of attitudes toward
mathematics to address factors reported to be important in research. Items were
constructed to assess confidence, anxiety, value, enjoyment, and motivation.
1. Self-Confidence. The self-confidence category was designed to measure students’
confidence and self-concept of their performance in mathematics.
2. Value. The value of mathematics category was designed to measure students’
beliefs on the usefulness, relevance and worth of mathematics in their life now and in the
future.
3. Enjoyment. The enjoyment of mathematics category was designed to measure the
degree to which students enjoy working mathematics and mathematics classes.
 4. Motivation. The motivation category was designed to measure interest in
mathematics and desire to pursue studies in mathematics.
The factor structure of the ATMI covers the domain of attitudes toward mathematics,
providing evidence of content validity. Content validity was established by relating the
items to the variables: confidence, anxiety, value, enjoyment, and motivation. This
structure is explained by the four-factor model supporting different interpretations for
students’ self-confidence, value, enjoyment and motivation as underlying dimensions of
attitudes toward mathematics.
Attitudinal research should concern more than anxiety and competence, because it is
clear that other factors are also important. Although there is a substantial body of research
about attitudes toward mathematics, much of it is based on results with tools developed
prior to current statistical standards for instrument development. In the meanwhile, factor
analysis has matured as a method to examine interrelationships among a number of
variables with minimal loss of information. The ATMI was constructed using these
standards and may be an efficient and effective research tool to assess factors that
influence expectations and performance in math because of its content validity, reliable
factor scores, test-retest reliability, and brevity.
Positive attitude towards Mathematics cause an individual to learn more effectively
and make students achieve better in Mathematics if they like Mathematics. By the way of
contrast, negative attitudes cause a difficulty in Mathematics. The development of positive
attitudes towards Mathematics and the students’ involvement in it help in the learning of
Mathematics. The following behavior is developed in the students: a) positive response to
the use of Mathematics as a tool in practical situations b) confidence to apply Mathematics
in real life situations c) willingness and ability to do work cooperatively with others and to
value the contribution of others d) willingness to persist when solving problems and try
different methods of attack e) interests and enjoyment in the pursuit of Mathematical
knowledge (Yara, 2009).
Teacher quality matters. In fact, it is the most important school-related factor
influencing student achievement. According to Ali (2013), a big factor that affects students’
performance is student-teacher relationship. It appears that most lecturers in
mathematical science department are not friendly, in other words, mentoring of students is
not a common practice among mathematical science lecturers. A lecturer’s bad attitudes,
poor teaching skills, and lack of involvement with students when teaching result in poor
performance.
As stated by Suan (2014), teacher factor is the most recommended factors impacting
students learning. Accumulated evidences suggest that it moderates the effect of other risk
factors like parents educational level of attainments, gender of students, socio-cultural and
socio-economic backgrounds. Teachers are responsible to the kind of learning and
experiences the students may engage everyday as well as setting of educational goals and
total personality development. Professional development of teachers on content-focused
instruction has tremendous effect on student achievement. Suan (2014) provided a
scientifically based evidence for its positive effect. The students of the teacher who
participated in programs for faculty development had scored above the students whose
teachers did not participate. The study of Hill, Rowan & Ball (2005) concluded that
teacher’s mathematical knowledge had strong significant relationship on student
achievement. Quimbo (2003) says that teachers who always absent or did not teach had
among the lowest score in mathematics achievement test. Thus, mathematics achievement
can be improved by improving teacher’s mathematical knowledge, commitment in the
profession and always engaging in professional development.

Research Methodology

The descriptive method of research was used in the study. The population covered in
was the First Year to Third Year BSEDMT students from three selected campuses of
Polytechnic University of the Philippines namely PUP Sta. Mesa (Main) Campus, PUP San
Juan Campus, and PUP Santa Maria Campus, with a total of 516 students. The researcher
employed stratified random sampling and considered fifty percent (50%) of the population
arriving with 260 students as sample.
The main instrument used in this study was a survey questionnaire. The first part
of the questionnaire measured the Mathematics teachers’ attributes in terms of personal
and professional attributes. It consists 30 items from which 15 items measured personal
attributes and the other 15 items measured professional attributes. The second part of the
questionnaire is the Attitudes Toward Mathematics Inventory (ATMI). The 40-items of the
ATMI were divided into four factors namely, value of Mathematics, enjoyment of
Mathematics, self-confidence with Mathematics and Motivation with mathematics.
Mathematics performance of the students were measured using their grades in their
Mathematics subjects.
The researcher used weighted mean and regression analysis to analyze and
interpret the data collected. All statistical computations were done with the use of
Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).

Findings

1. Mathematics Teachers’ Attributes

1.1 College Algebra teachers got a weighted mean of 4.27 for personal attributes and a
weighted mean of 4.12 for professional attributes. Over-all, the weighted mean of
4.20 entails an outstanding teacher attributes.
1.2 Advanced Algebra teachers obtained a weighted mean of 3.72 for personal
attributes and a weighted mean of 3.61 for professional attributes. The over-all
weighted mean of 3.67 implies a very satisfactory teacher attributes.
1.3 Plane Trigonometry teachers gained a weighted mean of 4.02 for personal
attributes and a weighted mean of 3.77 for professional attributes. The total
weighted mean of 3.90 signifies a very satisfactory teacher attributes.
 1.4 Plane Geometry teachers acquired a weighted mean of 3.48 for personal attributes
and a weighted mean of 3.38 for professional attributes. The over-all weighted
mean of 3.43 implies a very satisfactory teacher attributes.
1.5 Differential Calculus teachers achieved a weighted mean of 4.21 for personal
attributes and a weighted mean of 3.99 for professional attributes. In totality, the
weighted mean of 4.10 entails a very satisfactory teacher attributes.
1.6 Spherical Trigonometry teachersgot a weighted mean of 4.36 for personal attributes
and a weighted mean of 4.08 for professional attributes. The total weighted mean of
4.22 shows an outstanding teacher attributes.
1.7 Number Theory teachers obtained a weighted mean of 4.37 for personal attributes
and a weighted mean of 4.10 for professional attributes. Over-all, the weighted
mean of 4.23 signifies an outstanding teacher attributes.
1.8 Mathematical Logic teachers garnered a weighted mean of 4.24 for personal
attributes and a weighted mean of 4.04 for professional attributes. The over-all
weighted mean of 4.14 means a very satisfactory teacher attributes.
2. Attitude Towards Mathematics Subjects
2.1 In terms of attitude towards College Algebra, students have a weighted mean of
4.50 for value, 4.25 for enjoyment, 3.75 for self-confidence, and 3.84 for motivation.
Over-all, the weighted mean of 3.99 is an indication of a positive attitude.
2.2 In terms of attitude towards Advanced Algebra, students obtained a weighted mean
of 4.31 for value, 3.84 for enjoyment, 3.49 for self-confidence, 3.63 for motivation. In
totality, the weighted mean of 3.78 signifies a positive attitude.
2.3 In terms of attitude towards Plane Trigonometry, students got weighted mean of
4.03 for value, 3.63 for enjoyment, 3.49 for self-confidence, and 3.58 for motivation.
The over-all weighted mean of 3.66 is an implication of a positive attitude.
2.4 In terms of attitude towards Plane Geometry, students gained a weighted mean of
3.88 for value, 3.45 for enjoyment, 3.26 for self-confidence, and 3.42 for motivation.
The total weighted mean of 3.47 is an indication of a positive attitude.
2.5 In terms of attitude towards Differential Calculus, students have a weighted mean
of 3.90 for value, 3.66 for enjoyment, 3.38 for self-confidence, and 3.62 for
motivation. Over-all, the total weighted mean of 3.60 means a positive attitude.
2.6 In terms of attitude towards Spherical Trigonometry, students got a weighted mean
of 4.09 for value, 3.93 for enjoyment, 3.72 for self-confidence, and 3.70 for
motivation. In totality, the over-all weighted mean of 3.86 is implies a positive
attitude.
2.7 In terms of attitude towards Number Theory, students acquired a weighted mean of
4.09 for value, 3.97 for enjoyment, 3.75 for self-confidence, and 3.70 for motivation.
The total weighted mean of 3.88 signifies a positive attitude.
2.8 In terms of attitude towards Mathematical Logic, students got a weighted mean of
4.07 for value, 3.83 for enjoyment, 3.62 for self-confidence, and 3.66 for motivation.
Over-all, the total weighted mean of 3.78 is an indication of a positive attitude.
3. Performance in Mathematics Subjects
3.1 In terms of College Algebra performance, students got an average grade of 2.05
which shows a satisfactory performance.
3.2 In terms of Advanced Algebra performance, the average grade of 2.65 implies a fair
performance.
3.3 In terms of Plane Trigonometry performance, the average grade of 2.22 signifies a
satisfactory performance.
3.4 In terms of Plane Geometry performance, students obtained an average grade of
2.25 which indicates a satisfactory performances
3.5 In terms of the Differential Calculus performance, students got an average grade of
2.29 which implies a satisfactory performance.
3.6 In terms of Spherical Trigonometry performance, the average grade of 1.93 is an
indication of satisfactory performance.
3.7 In terms of Number Theory performance, students got an average grade of 2.04
which shows a satisfactory performance.
3.8 In terms of Mathematical Logic performance, the average grade of 1.93 implies a
satisfactory performance.

4. Determinants of Mathematics Performance

4.1 In terms of determinants of College Algebra performance, using multiple linear
regression, it was revealed that the p – values of personal attributes (p = .089),
professional attributes (p = .174), value of College Algebra (p = .933), enjoyment of
College Algebra (p = .690), self-confidence with College Algebra (p = .655), and
motivation with College Algebra (p = .278) are greater than the critical p – value of
.05. This implies that these variables do not significantly determine the College
Algebra performance.
4.2 In terms of determinants of Advanced Algebra performance, it was found that the p
– values of personal attributes (p = .098), professional attributes (p = .647), value of
Advanced Algebra (p = .466), self-confidence with Advanced Algebra (p = .380), and
motivation with Advanced Algebra (p = .358) are greater than the critical p – value
of .05. This implies that these variables do not significantly determine the
Advanced Algebra performance of students. On the other hand, the p – value of
enjoyment of Advanced Algebra (p = .005), which is less than the critical p – value
of .05, signifies that enjoyment of Advanced Algebra significantly determine the
performance of the students in Advanced Algebra.
4.3 In terms of determinants of Plane Trigonometry performance, results of multiple
regression analysis showed that the p – values of professional attributes (p = .122),
value of Plane Trigonometry (p = .869), enjoyment of Plane Trigonometry (p = .658),
self-confidence with Plane Trigonometry (p = .768), and motivation with Plane
Trigonometry (p = .343) are greater than the critical p – value of .05. This implies
that these variables do not significantly determine the Plane Trigonometry
performance of the Second Year students. Meanwhile, the p – value of teachers’
 personal attributes which is .017, which is less that the critical p – value of .05,
signifies that personal attributes of Plane Trigonometry teachers significantly
determine the performance of the students.
4.4 In terms of determinants of Plane Geometry performance, the p – values of
professional attributes (p = .400), value of Plane Geometry (p = .894), enjoyment of
Plane Geometry (p = .440), self-confidence with Plane Trigonometry (p = .133), and
motivation with Plane Geometry (p = .830) are greater than the critical p – value of
.05. This shows that these variables do not significantly determine the Plane
Geometry performance of the students. On the other hand, the p – value of
teachers’ personal attributes which is .001, which is less that the critical p – value
of .05, implies that personal attributes of Plane Geometry teachers significantly
determine the performance of the Second Year students.
4.5 In terms of the determinants of Differential Calculus performance, the p – values of
personal attributes (p = .281), professional attributes (p = .373), value of
Differential Calculus (p = .452), enjoyment of Differential Calculus (p = .280), and
motivation with Differential Calculus (p = .325) are greater than the critical p –
value of .05. This implies that these variables do not significantly determine the
Differential Calculus performance. On the other hand, self-confidence with
Differential Calculus got a p – value of .047, which is less that the critical p –value
of .05, signifies that self-confidence with Differential Calculus is a significant
determinant of the students’ performance.
4.6 In terms of determinants of Spherical Trigonometry performance, the p – values of
personal attributes (p = .436), professional attributes (p = .794), value of Spherical
Trigonometry (p = .120), enjoyment of Spherical Trigonometry (p = .162), self-
confidence with Spherical Trigonometry (p = .929), and motivation with Spherical
Trigonometry (p = .435) are greater than the critical p – value of .05. This implies
that these variables do not significantly determine the Spherical Trigonometry
performance.
4.7 In terms of determinants of Number Theory performance, it was revealed that the p
– values of personal attributes (p = .444), professional attributes (p = .611),
enjoyment of Number Theory (p = .167), self-confidence with Number Theory (p =
.251), and motivation with Number Theory (p = .435) are greater than the critical p
– value of .05. This implies that these variables do not significantly determine the
Number Theory performance. The p – value of 0.046 for the attitude towards
Number Theory in terms of the value of Number theory is less than the critical p –
value of .05. This is an indication that value of Number Theory is a significant
determinant of the students’ performance.
4.8 In terms of determinants of Mathematical Logic performance, the p – values of
personal attributes (p = .255), professional attributes (p = .976), value of
Mathematical Logic (p = .924), enjoyment of Math Logic (p = .496), self-confidence
with Mathematical Logic(p = .420), and motivation with Mathematical Logic (p =
 .995) are greater than the critical p – value of .05. This implies that these variables
do not significantly determine the Mathematical Logic performance.

Conclusions

Based on the findings, the researcher has drawn the following conclusions.

1. Mathematics Teachers’ Attributes

Teachers handling College Algebra, Number Theory, and Spherical Trigonometry
subjects have outstanding teacher attributes. This signified the exceptional personal
characteristics, and extensive professional qualities of the mathematics teachers.
Likewise, teachers handling Advanced Algebra, Plane Trigonometry, Differential
Calculus, and Mathematical Logic have with very satisfactory rating. This implied that
teachers have very pleasing personal characteristics and traits, and professional
qualities and capabilities.

2. Attitude Towards Mathematics Subjects

Students have favorable beliefs on the usefulness, relevance and worth of their
mathematics subjects. They also have high level of enjoyment, positive outlook and self-
concept, and are confident in working with mathematics. This clearly proved that
students have positive and favorable emotional disposition towards their mathematics
subjects.

3. Performance in Mathematics Subject

In terms of mathematics performance, students have satisfactory performance in
College Algebra, Plane Trigonometry, Plane Geometry, Differential Calculus, Spherical
Trigonometry, Number Theory, and Mathematical Logic. On the other hand, students
have fair performance in Advanced Algebra subject.

4. Determinants of Mathematics Performance

Using Stepwise Multiple Regression, it was revealed that none of the dimensions of
mathematics teachers’ attributes and dimensions of attitudes towards mathematics
significantly determined the performance of the students in College Algebra, Plane
Trigonometry, Spherical Trigonometry, and Mathematical Logic. On the other hand,
teacher’s personal attributes and enjoyment of mathematics are significant
determinants or predictors of Advanced Algebra performance. Likewise, teachers’
personal attributes was revealed as a significant determinant of Plane Geometry
performance. Lastly, findings of study showed that self-confidence with mathematics is
a significant predictor of performances in Differential Calculus and Number Theory.
Recommendations

Based on the findings and conclusions derived from the study, the following
recommendations are proposed.
1. TheUniversity should provide opportunities for mathematics teachers to develop
their personal being and their professional career. Faculty members should be given
chances to attend seminars, workshops, conferences, and trainings to abreast
themselves with new trends in mathematics education. Stipends, allowances and
travelling expenses should be provided by the university when attending seminars
which will be a big help in the part of the faculty member.
2. Since BSED Mathematics Program prepares the students to be future mathematics
teachers, it is necessary and essential that their attitude towards mathematics be
improved. Various seminars on career orientation, motivation and personality
development should be given to mathematics education students for them to instill
in their minds the essence and importance mathematics teaching.
3. BSED Mathematics Program Coordinators, Academic Heads or Chairpersons, and
Administrators should plan for different programs that will help their students
improve their performance in mathematics.
4. Further Researches on the possible factors influencing the attitudes of the students
in mathematics and performance of students shall be conducted for further
developments.

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 Determinants of Mathematics Performance of Bachelor of Secondary
Education major in Mathematics Students of Polytechnic
University of the Philippines

ARMAN DC. SANTOS

Polytechnic University of the Philippines
[email protected]
+63 925 807 1309; +63 906 727 7371

About the Author

Arman DC. Santos, MSME is an Assistant Professor III of Polytechnic University of

the Philippines – College of Education. He graduated cum laude with the degree Bachelor
of Science in Mathematics in 2009 and obtained his Master of Science in Mathematics
Education degree in 2013, both from Polytechnic University of the Philippines. At present,
he is pursuing Doctor of Philosophy in Education major in Mathematics Education at the
University of the Philippines Open University as a scholar of the Department of Science
and Technology – Science Education Institute.