A Study Orientation Questionnaire in Mathematics for Use in a Tertiary Environment

Abstract

The Study Orientation Questionnaire in Mathematics Tertiary is being developed as a diagnostic measure for South African lecturers and counselors to help students improve their orientation toward the study of mathematics. In this pilot study subjects were freshman black students registered for the Five-year Study Programme in the School of Engineering at the University of Pretoria. During the first phase of the standardisation in 2000, 33 students (28 men; 5 women, M age =19.6, SD = .9) were assessed, and in 2001, 40 students (27 men, 13 women, M age = 19.2, SD = .9). In 2002 the questionnaire was administered to 51 students (39 men, 12 women, M age =19.1, SD = .9). Analysis showed satisfactory reliability coefficients and item-field correlations. Step-wise linear regression in 2001 indicated that a combination of two fields, namely, Information Processing and Problem-solving Behaviour in mathematics, contributed significantly (R² = 46.9%) to predicting achievement in calculus. In 2002 one field, Mathematics Confidence, contributed significantly (R² = 25.2%) to that prediction.