Middle school students perceptions of their self-efficacy in visual mathematics and geometry: a study of sixth to eighth grade pupils in Istanbul province, Turkey

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study was conducted with students attending middle schools in the province of Istanbul in Turkey in order to examine middle school students’ visual mathematics literacy self-efficacy perceptions and their self-efficacy in geometry. Research data were collected using the ‘Visual Mathematics Literacy Self-Efficacy Perceptions Scale’ and the ‘Self-Efficacy in Geometry Scale’, as well as a ‘Personal Information Form’ developed by the researcher. This study was conducted using a survey model, and research data were analysed using the SPSS 16 software. It was concluded that: the middle school students’ levels of self-sufficiency perceptions of visual mathematics literacy and self-efficacy in geometry were high, the female students’ levels of self-efficacy perceptions of visual mathematics literacy and self-efficacy in geometry were higher than those of the male students, the scale scores of the sixth grade students were higher than those of the seventh and eighth grade students, and the self-efficacy perceptions of visual mathematics literacy and self-efficacy in geometry among the students who liked mathematics were higher than those among the students who did not like mathematics. Additionally, a significant relationship was found between the quality of middle school students’ notes during the mathematics course and their self-efficacy perceptions of visual mathematics literacy and self-efficacy towards geometry.