STUDENTS' ATTITUDE AS A DETERMINANT OF BASIC GENERAL MATHEMATICS PERFORMANCE IN FEDERAL COLLEGES OF EDUCATION SOUTHWEST, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study investigated students' attitude as determinants of Basic General Mathematics Performance in Federal Colleges of Education Southwest, Nigeria. To this end, students' scores in Basic General Mathematics were collated for four hundred students of 200Level using Taro Yamane' formula for sample size. These students were proportionately sampled from the selected Federal Colleges of Education. The study employed a descriptive survey research type using single structured questionnaire titled Basic General Mathematics Students' Attitude Questionnaire (BGMSAQ) that contained ten items. A research question was raised. The internal consistency of the instrument was calculated 0.86. The data collected were analyzed using mean score and standard deviation. The findings of this study showed that a weighted mean of 3.07 out of the maximum obtainable of 4.00 which higher
than the standard mean of 2.5. It implies that the students' attitude towards Basic General Mathematics in Federal Colleges of Education, Southwest Nigeria was positive. It was concluded that students' attitude should be encouraged and maintained. It was
recommended among others, that lecturers are to work harder to give class exercises and assignments to students in order to keep them busy such that their attitude towards work is maintained.