Attitude, Self-efficacy and Motivation of Students as Predictors Mathematics Achievement in General Secondary Schools in East Wollega Zone, Oromia Region

Abstract

The study investigated students’ attitudes, self-efficacy and motivation as predictors of grade 10 mathematics achievement. To achieve the objective, 398 students were taken from grade 10 students of Dange, Jangir, Ano, Gute and Ifa Secondary Schools in East Wollega, Oromia Region using systematic random A questionnaire contained items on attitudes, self-efficacy and motivation in learning mathematics was administered. First semester grade 10 mathematics’ score results were also obtained from the record office of the sampled secondary schools. SPSS version 20 software computer program was used to analyze the collected data. Pearson’s product moment and multiple‐regression analysis were employed to see the relationship among variables and how well the predictor variables predicted Mathematics achievement, respectively. The results revealed that the attitude, self-efficacy belief and motivation had statistically significant relationship to mathematics achievement in general, r.776 F= (3,394), 198.673, P<0.00. 60.2 % of the variance in mathematics achievement is explained by the linear combination of attitudes towards learning, self-efficacy and motivation. Attitudes towards learning, self-efficacy and motivation in learning mathematics predicted significantly mathematics achievement, B. 420, B.354; B.143, t=8.5697, t=6.972 and t=3.063, respectively, p=<0.05. On the basis of these results, it was recommended that principals, supervisors, teachers, parents and educational practitioners should give due attention to students’ attitude towards, self-efficacy and motivation in learning mathematics in secondary schools.