DIFFERENTIAL STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN THE SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL MATHEMATICS THREE CONTENT AREAS ON GENDER AND SCHOOL FACTOR

ABSTRACT

As mathematics
is the foundation of all sciences, a compulsory subject in all Nigerian
schools, and followed by the worrisome trend in poor performance especially in the
subject in public examinations, this study sought to examine the extent of
difference in academic performance in three mathematics content areas of
algebra, trigonometry and statistics, of mixed-sex senior secondary III
students under varying school conditions (day or boarding, public or private
owned). The multi-pronged study, seeking performance by gender and school type
used a validated Mathematics Assessment Test to assess the students in the
three content areas. The data was analysed using a 2-way ANOVA without
replication and the result indicated no significant difference between overall
male and female performance in the three content areas. A significant
difference existed in the overall performance of male and female students from
the public and private (day) school. There was a significant difference in
performance between students of both sexes in the boarding house and those
attending the same school from their homes. The researcher therefore
recommended, among other things, exploring better ways of delivering content
areas students perceived to be difficult and removal of gender stereotyping in
mathematics education.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title
page                       ---      ---      ---      ---      ---                i

Certification
                  ---      ---      ---      ---      ---                ii

Approval
page               ---      ---      ---      ---      ---                iii

Acknowledgement          ---      ---      ---      ---      ---                v

Table of contents            ---      ---      ---      ---      ---                vi

List of tables                  ---      ---      ---      ---      ---                ix

Abstract                          ---      ---      ---      ---      ---                x

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background of the problem      ---      ---      ---                1

1.2     Statement of the problem          ---      ---      ---                4

1.3     Purpose of the study                 ---      ---      ---                6

1.4     Research questions          ---      ---      ---      ---                6

1.5     Hypothesis            ---      ---      ---      ---      ---                7

1.6     Significance of the study           ---      ---      ---                7

1.7     Scope of the study          ---      ---      ---      ---                8

1.8     Operational definition of terms           ---      ---                9

CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE

2.1     Literature review            ---      ---      ---      ---                12

2.2     Review of related empirical studies    ---      ---                19

2.3     Summary and uniqueness of the study          ---                28

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY

3.1     Research design              ---      ---      ---      ---                30

3.2     Population of the study             ---      ---      ---                30

3.3     Sample and sampling technique          ---      ---                31

3.4     Validation of instrument           ---      ---      ---                31

3.5     Reliability of the instrument      ---      ---      ---                32

3.6     Data collection                ---      ---      ---      ---                32

3.7     Method of data analysis            ---      ---      ---                33     

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS

4.1     Data presentation            ---      ---      ---      ---                34

4.2     Analysis of research questions            ---      ---                34

4.3     Testing of hypothesis      ---      ---      ---      ---                38

4.4     Discussion of findings    ---      ---      ---      ---                41

CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS,

                             CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1     Summary of findings      ---      ---      ---      ---                43

5.2     Conclusion                     ---      ---      ---      ---                44

5.3     Recommendations          ---      ---      ---      ---                44

          Reference                       ---      ---      ---      ---                45

          Appendix                       ---      ---      ---      ---                50