Publication: The mathematics profiency test results of BS math freshmen in relation to certain variables
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Date
2000-03
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Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University - South La Union Campus
Abstract
"The Mathematics Proficiency Test Results of BS Math Freshmen in Relation to
Certatin Variables" by Jocelyn Dulatri Volante and Vilma Renon Unciano. Prof. Raquel
Difuntorum Quiambao, adviser.
This study aimed to determine the mathematics proficiency test results (MPTR) of BS
Math freshmen in relation to certain variables such as sex, the type of school (elementary and
high school) graduated, the highest educational attainment of parents, the attitude towards
mathematics, the study habits of students and the fourth year high school mathematics
grades.
Specifically, the study attempted to determine the profile of the BS Math freshmen of
DMMMSU as to the demographic and academic factors, the performance of the students in
their fourth year high school mathematics and in their math proficiency test. This study also
sought to find if there is any significant relationship between each of the demographic factors
and the MPTR of the students. And this study sought to determine the relationship between
the fourth year high school math grades and the MPTR of the students.
The subject of this study were the 40 selected BS Math freshmen with fourth year
high school math grades and MPTR who were enrolled at DMMMSU-SLUC, Agoo, La
Union during the first semester of the school year 1999 - 2000. Their fourth year high
school math grades were gathered from the :file of records of the Registrar and the MPTR
were gathered from the Guidance Counselor's Office of DMMMSU. The instrument used in
gathering the personal data of the respondents is the questionnaire and this was formed in a
guided-response type.
Frequency counts and percentages were used to determine the number of respondents
and the distribution of the different responses in the different items. Weighted mean was
used to estimate the weight of each item in the rating scale on the attitude profile and study
ways as perceived by the respondents. The chi-square test of association was used to
determine if there is a significant relationship between each of the demographic profile of the
respondents and their MPTR. The pearson-product moment correlation was also used to
determine if there is a significant relationship between the fourth year high school math
grades and the MPTR of the respondents.
When the different responses in the different items from the respondents were
considered, it was found out that there were more females than males who took up the
proficiency test. Majority of the respondents carne from public school both in elementary
and high school. The parents' educational attainment of the respondents were high school
graduates. Majority of the respondents agreed on each of the statements under the attitude
category and they have a positive reaction to mathematics. Majority of the respondents often
did their own ways, manners or methods in studying their lessons.
It was also found out that the performance of the respondents in their fourth year high
school mathematics is within the average level. But the performance of the respondents in
the math proficiency test is below average
The chi-square test of association showed no significant relationship in each of the
demographic factors such as sex, type of school graduated, educational attainment of parents,
attitude towards math and study ways to the MPTR of the respondents at 5% level of
significance.
A significant correlation was obtained when the fourth year high school math grade
range was correlated with the MPTR range. The correlation obtained employing the
statistical tool pearson - product moment correlation using grouped data is .56 on which
based on the "interpretation of values r" , shows a moderate correlation. This means that
when a student got high grade in their math subject, he/she also got high in the math
proficiency test but when a student got average or low grade, he/she got also low scores in
the said test. Testing its significance at 5% level, the computed t-value of which is 4.11 is
greater than the tabulated t-value of2.021 conveying the degree of freedom 38 leading to the
rejection of the null hypothesis and accepting the alternative hypothesis. This shows then
that there is a significant relationship between the fourth year high school math grades and
the MPTR of the respondents.
Since sex was not related to MPTR, it can be concluded that both sexes take a part
and participate in the math proficiency test. Furthermore, sex does not matter when it comes
to performance. Respondents' performance either in public school or private school were
equal since the type of school graduated was not related to Iv1PTR. Their parents who
finished a degree in high trained their children "conventionally". Respondents' interest about
mathematics were agreeable and they feel a positive reaction to mathematics. Respondents
often did their own ways, manners or methods of studying.
Respondents performed satisfactorily in their fourth year high school math subject but
they have low performance in the math proficiency test. From the computation obtained the
relationship between each of the demographic factors and the Iv1PTRof the respondents is
not significant at 5% level but the fourth year high school math grades and the MPTR are
related significantly.
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Citation
Volante, J. D. & Unciano, V. R. (2000) The mathematics profiency test results of BS math freshmen in relation to certain variables [Unpublished Undergraduate thesis]. Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University - South La Union Campus, Agoo, La Union.