The relationship between pre-service elementary school mathematics teachers’ beliefs about epistemology of mathematics, teaching and learning, and mathematics assessment

Abstract

This study aims to examine the relationship between epistemological beliefs, teaching-learning beliefs and assessment beliefs in mathematics education. This research is a quantitative study with a correlational study. Data collection using the survey method with a cross-sectional design. The participants were 71 pre-service elementary school  , mathematics teachers. The data on beliefs were collected through means of a questionnaire. The data collected from the questionnaire were then analyzed quantitatively through descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive statistics utilizes the mean value, maximum value, and standard deviation values. Inferential statistics use the product-moment correlation as well as path analysis. The research results show that there is a positive and significant correlation between static and dynamic beliefs on epistemology of mathematics, and the constructivist beliefs on mathematics teaching and learning, with the productive beliefs on mathematics assessment. In addition, there is seen to be a functional influence between both epistimological beliefs (both static and dynamic), as well as beliefs on teaching and learning (constructivist) and beliefs about mathematic assessment (productive). The results of this research signify the importance of considering one’s beliefs about the epistemology of mathematics and mathematics teaching and learning when constructing their beliefs regarding mathematics assessment.