Investigating the Level of the Tenth-grade Students’ Self-Efficacy in Mathematics and its Impact on their Performance: A Study in Pemagatshel District

Abstract

The study aimed at finding out the level of Mathematics self-efficacy and its relationship with the Mathematics performance of tenth-grade students. The study used a quantitative method.  The data was collected from one middle secondary school and three central schools under the Pemagatshel district from 3rd March to 16th March 2020.  A total of 300 students comprising 150 males and females each were included for the study. The data was collected using Mathematics Self-Efficacy Scales and analyzed using SPSS. The overall finding indicated that students had an average level of Mathematics self-efficacy (M=3.25; SD= 0.60). Among the four sources of self-efficacy, the study revealed that the students had high Mathematics self-efficacy in vicarious experience (M= 3.67; SD= 0.62). The Pearson correlation indicated a moderate positive correlation (r= .467, P=.05) between Mathematics self-efficacy and Mathematics performance. Higher the Mathematics self-efficacy, better the Mathematics performance, and lower the Mathematics self-efficacy, poorer the Mathematics performance. Therefore, it is imperative to strengthen the skills and strategies that enhance the Mathematics self-efficacy of the students.