Relationship between Mathematical Ability and Achievement in Mathematics among Female Secondary School Students in Bayelsa State Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between female senior secondary school students’ mathematical ability and achievement level in mathematics in five (5) out of eight (8) local government areas in Bayelsa State Nigeria. This study adopted multi-stage sampling technique. Data were collected from a sample of 121 female students from rural and 141 female senior secondary school students from urban schools which were randomly selected using the simple random sampling method both at the Local Government, and at the school level. Two research questions and instruments were raised for the study. The instruments were Student Mathematical Ability Test (SMAT) with r = 0.68 and Mathematical Achievement Test (MAT) with r = 0.68 was established for the student Mathematics Achievement Test. Simple linear correlation was used to analysed the data collected at 0.05 alpha. Results showed that there was a positive significant relationship between mathematical ability and achievement in mathematics. Using multiple regression analysis showed that mathematical ability has a significant effect on achievement in mathematics with B = 0.386 and P < 0.05. Based on these findings, it was recommended that government should provide schools with facilities that will develop and sustain students’ mathematical ability as it is a good predictor of students’ achievement in mathematics.