GENDER DIFFERENCE AND PROBLEM SOLVING ABILITIES IN MATHEMATICS AMONG SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN PORT HARCOURT LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

  • Obunge Jessey Ilama

Abstract

The study examined gender difference and Problem Solving abilities of senior secondary school students in mathematics. The population of the study involved all senior secondary school students in Port-Harcourt local government area. Six secondary schools (two co-educational, two exclusively boys and two, exclusively girls) in Port Harcourt participated in this study. Sample size of 373 students was determined with the aid of Taro Yamane’s formula. Simple random sampling technique was employed. Five ‘Problem-Solving Test in Mathematics’(PSTM) questions on quadratic equation were developed by the researcher and administered to the students to ascertain their problem solving abilities in mathematics. The (instrument) was pre-tested, using test-retest method and obtained a reliability of 0.82 using Pearson Product Moment Correlation formula. Data were analyzed by simple mean to answer research questions 1 and 2. Student t-test score was used to test the null hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. Results of the findings revealed that only about 11% of the total students scored 50% and above. 89% of the students scored below 50%, which shows a very poor performance generally by the students, indicating low problem-solving ability. It further revealed that the male students had higher mean scores in mathematics than the female students. Their t-test score shows a significant difference, which shows that there is a significant difference between male and female problem solving abilities in mathematics. Thus, the study concluded that male students had higher Problem Solving abilities in mathematics than female students in Port Harcourt. Based on the findings, the study recommended that, all students at all levels should be encouraged to actively participate in mathematics classes and activities because mathematics is a subject required by everyone in the society as it is the bedrock of economic and technological development of nations. Also, mathematics stake holders should focus more on problem-solving in mathematics with special attention to very essential topics such as algebra. Keywords: Gender difference, problem-solving, abilities, mathematics, secondary schools, performance.
How to Cite
Obunge Jessey Ilama. (1). GENDER DIFFERENCE AND PROBLEM SOLVING ABILITIES IN MATHEMATICS AMONG SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN PORT HARCOURT LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA. International Journal Of Innovation In Engineering Research & Management UGC APPROVED NO. 48708, EFI 5.89, WORLD SCINTIFIC IF 6.33, 8(6), 62-71. Retrieved from http://journal.ijierm.co.in/index.php/ijierm/article/view/408
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