Secondary School Mathematics as Determinant of Academic Performance in University Introductory Physics

Abstract

The study determined the relationship between performance in secondary school Mathematics and undergraduate students’ performance in introductory Physics courses. It also investigated the influence of the performance in Mathematics on undergraduate students’ achievement in practical courses and determined the influence of their performances in Mathematics on undergraduate students’ attitude to Physics at university level. These were with the view to improving the performance in Physics through the knowledge of Mathematics. The study employed ex-post-facto and survey research design methods.  The sample consisted of one hundred and eighty students which were randomly selected from six departments in Faculty of Science, University of Ibadan. The instrument used for data collection is a questionnaire titled; “Undergraduate Students Attitude to Physics Questionnaire” (USAPQ).  The reliability of the instrument was found to be 0.71. The data collected were analyzed using correlation coefficient, linear regression and percentage. The result revealed that, there is no significant relationship between performance in secondary school Mathematics and undergraduate students’ performance in university introductory Physics.  It also showed that there is no significant relationship between the performance of undergraduate students’ performance in Mathematics and their performance in practical Physics courses. Finally, it revealed that there is a significant relationship between their performance in Mathematics and their attitude to Physics at university level. The study concluded that, there should be more seminars for teachers on the need to encourage students to improve on their attitude towards Mathematics. The study concluded that, the government should invest more into Physics, Mathematics and science education

Keywords: Mathematics, Academic Performance, Determinant, Physics, Mathematics