International Journal of Educational Research Review
www.ijere.com 338
Comparative Studies of Students’ Psychosocial Factors and Performance in Mathematics
Omoniyi Israel Oginni
Article History:
Received 06.10.2020
Received in revised form
15.06.2021
Accepted
Available online
01.10.2021
The study investigated the influence of psychological factors (school environment, teachers’
attribute, parental factors and students’ disposition) on students’ academic performance in
Mathematics. The research design adopted for the study is the descriptive research of survey type
and expo facto design. The sample for the study consisted of 150 participants randomly selected
using stratified random sampling technique. The findings revealed that school environment has no
significant influence on students performance in Mathematics. The study showed that the parental
factors have significant influence on students performance in Mathematics. Also, students’
disposition has significant influence on their performance in Mathematics. The result of this study
therefore would be of great help to governments, teachers, students, professional policy makers and
parents in providing a solid springboard to launch a new template to finding a lasting solution to the
perennial low performance issues in Mathematics at the Senior Secondary Schools.
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Keywords: School environment; teachers’ attribute; parental factors; students’ disposition; performance;
mathematics
Introduction
Education deals with inculcating moral values, positive thinking, attitude of helping, attitude of giving
to society and ethical values that would bring changes in the society (Demirbağ,2020; Demirtaş & Arslan,2018;
Eyong, Ugada & Aminu,2020; Hariyani, Ahmad & Marsitin, 2021; Karagöz,2021). Education and
Mathematics in every sense are fundamental in child development (Green, Little, Kamat, Oketch & Vickers,
2007). This observation suggests that education and Mathematics are playing great role in the development of
nations and they can be seen as central to their economic growth and social development. This role is explained
in how education could helps individual to enhance life quality and a better standard of living. If the society
do not get it right in the area of Mathematics, advancement in the area of science and technology will be an
unrealistic dream. Mathematical knowledge indeed equips individuals with the skill to solve a wide range of
practical tasks and scientific problems that they may encounter in life. Mathematics is learned because of
many reasons. Bed (2017) stated that mastery of basic mathematical skills is needed in order to cope with the
demand of life. Such demands include being numerically literate, gaining tools for future employment,
developing the prerequisites for further education, and appreciating the relationship between Mathematics
and technology. Secondly, Mathematics is the language of the sciences, and many disciplines depend on this
subject as a symbolic means of communication. Thirdly, Mathematics education play an important part in
developing students’ general decision making and problem solving skills (Adewumi, et.al 2012) . Several
reasons for students abysmal performance in Mathematics has been highlighted, all the reasons are subsumed
in psychosocial factor (Mtitu,2014). Firstly, the teacher factor, such as teaching styles and mastery of the
subject matter, classroom management, communication skills, and personality. Secondly, the student factor
like study habits, time management, attitude and interests towards Mathematics. Thirdly, the environmental
factor such as parental values and attitudes, classroom settings and peer group. Teachers were responsible to
the learning and experiences the students might engage everyday as well as setting of educational goals and
total personality development (Limb & Fullarton, 2001).
As a child move from infant to toddler and then to a preschooler, he learns how to speak, listen, write
and read which later develop the child to achieve academically. The role of parents on children school
achievement is well documented in numerous studies (Hill, 2001; Sidhu, 2005). Parental involvement and
expectations over a child has a great impact on the academic achievement, and this may be as a result of
environmental and economic factors. Some activities like helping children in reading, encouraging them to do
their homework independently, monitoring their activities inside the house and outside the four walls of their
house, and providing coaching services for improving their learning in Mathematics. Inability of a child to
enjoy such activities work injury to Mathematics learning (Kolawole & Oginni, 2009) ,and to a great extent
impedes the ability of the students to understand and appreciate the subject even from the basis.(Robertson
et.al. 2007). Children education does not depend on the teacher alone but also depend on their parents’
awareness, interest and knowledge about handling and guiding their children at home. Uche and Chinyere
(2013) studies have shown that parents with higher educational level could motivate the intellectual potentials
within children that may lead to perform better in school.
omoniyi.oginni@eksu.edu.ng, orcid.org/0000-0002-1905-8881, Faculty of Education, Department of Science Education,Ekiti State University,