INTEREST AS PREDICTOR OF NIGERIAN POLYTECHNIC STUDENTS’ PERFORMANCE IN MATHEMATICS

Abstract

The study investigated interest as predictor of Nigerian polytechnic students’ performance in Mathematics. Correlational survey research design was adopted.  Population was 462 National Diploma one students offering basic mathematics course. Sample of 211 students who completed the questionnaire was obtained using Krejcie and Morgan table. Instrument for data collection was Students Interest in Mathematics Questionnaire (SIMQ). Validity of the SIMQ was ascertained by experts in Mathematics Education. Reliability coefficient of 0.76 was obtained for SIMQ using Cronbach’s alpha. Finding revealed a significant positive relationship between interest and students’ performance in mathematics. Adjusted R Square 0.79 indicated interest contributes about 79% to students’ performance in mathematics. Additional result of the study indicates interest at t-value of 21.7 at p, 0.000 significantly predicts students’ performance in mathematics. The study recommends school authorities to devising means of boosting students interest considering it positive influence on academic performance in mathematics.