The effects of students' motivational factors on their attitude toward mathematics

Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate the influence of students’ external and internal motivational factors on their attitudes toward mathematics among college students at the University of Mindanao Tagum College. The respondents of the study were 380 students who enrolled in Math subjects in all courses in UM Tagum College. The researcher used the descriptive-correlation research method. The instrument used in the study was research-made but modified to suit the context of the study. Mean, Pearson-r, Linear Regression Analysis were the statistical tools used in this study. The level of external motivational factors among college students is high. Moreover, the level of internal motivational factors is high. Furthermore, the level of students’ mathematical attitudes among college students is also high. There is a significant relationship between students’ external motivational factors and students’ mathematical attitudes and there is no significant relationship between students’ internal motivational factors and students’ mathematical attitudes. Students’ external motivational factors significantly influence mathematical attitudes and students’ internal motivational factor has no significant influence on students’ mathematical attitudes. This confirms with the study of Oyedeji, Samson Oyelola (2017) which states that students' motivation has been found to be having a positive relationship with the students' attitudes toward mathematics.