Motivational factors as determinant of mathematics achievement of students in senior secondary schools

Abstract

The issue of student motivation is of utmost importance for achieving academic excellence in secondary schools. This study aimed to investigate the influence of motivational factors on the academic achievement of senior secondary school students in mathematics. The study was guided by five hypotheses and underwent testing at a significance level of 0.05. A descriptive survey design was employed, specifically selecting five senior secondary schools in the study area. A total of 300 students from these schools, located in the Ijebu Ode Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria, were selected. The research utilised questionnaires and a Mathematics Achievement Test (MAT), with reliability coefficients of 0.75 and 0.80, respectively. The findings revealed that intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, self-efficacy, and goal orientation had a positive and significant impact on academic achievement. Furthermore, when these factors were considered collectively, they demonstrated a significant influence. The conclusion drawn from this study is that motivational factors greatly affect the academic achievement of senior secondary school students in mathematics in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, Nigeria. Therefore, it is recommended that schools actively promote these factors during the teaching and learning processes to enhance students' achievement in mathematics.