This paper describes statistical study of performance in Mathematics. It objectively explores factors influencing student performance of UiTM Kedah. This analysis yielded on interest, role of teacher, peers and attitude.
According to Alfan and Othman, students are products of Universities; source of manpower to develop country’s economy after they graduated. Their performance in University is concern to academic, educators and corporations.
“Corporation in particular are the end of user in the supply chain of graduates for labour market” said Geary and Hamson. Students must be taught, have excellent quantitative competencies, possess high Mathematics performance and high Mathematics’ achievement. They would find difficulties to search for good jobs. There will be less manpower, will reduce economy in a developing country.
According to Nordin, these are factors contributed to difficulties in learning: stem from psychological incidences; mathematics curriculum may have failed to show relevance to real life application; Mathematics teachers lack of having interest in subject and did not help students by way of catering for individual difference.
Difficulties in mathematics are often caused by lacking of mathematics skills. Their response, is to understand the issue, knowledge, skills and commitment of teachers.
Normally, role of teachers, peers, students’ attitude and interest contribute to mathematical performance. Study was designed specifically to consider the potency of number of mathematical affective factors such background characteristics on children’s mathematics performance.
Hame, Bahari and Abdullah said, “achievement of students depends on positive attitude towards mathematics subject.” Study conducted at UiTM Kadh in November 2011 – March 2012, scale on students’ beliefs about attitude of mathematics and role of peers of mathematics had a high alpha. scale on students’ beliefs about interest in mathematics had a moderate alpha. Taking all these factors altogether, this instrument is highly reliable in measuring students’ beliefs about mathematics and related components.
Purpose of this analysis is to reduce number of variables to smaller number. Analysis of Cattel scree plot showed that items with loadings of more than 0.5 are considered valid contributors. For factor 1, loaded highest with factor loading of -0.824. Factor 2 loaded highest with factor loading of 0.824. Factor 3 loaded highest with factor loading of 0.803 while Factor 4 loaded highest with factor loading of 0.746.
This study was carried out to explore factors influencing students’ performance. Results suggest that all items were retained and were categorized under four different categories. First Attitude comprised of eighteen items and six items were categorized under second (Role of Teacher). Third (Peers), seven items were included. These items 7, 13, 15 and 29 were categorized under fourth (Interest). Generally, these factors will become very helpful indicator in discussing the important element of students’ performance and increase it. Findings of this study will provide model to be used to solve under performance in mathematics courses; to give in depth understanding and consequently will improve mathematics performance and achievement in near future, not only for UiTM Kedah, but for students in higher institutions in general.
