Students’ Learning Styles and Views: Effect on Higher Secondary Level Mathematics Achievement

Abstract

Mathematics essentially provides the basic skills for human resources. Additionally, it sets the foundation for further education. In this realization, this research investigates the relationship between the grade 11 students’ academic achievement in mathematics and their learning styles. It also investigates students’ views towards mathematics by gender and academic career plan. In doing so, two hundred forty seven grade 11 students of science stream from two higher secondary schools at Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) were chosen as the participants. A set of 44 forced choice dichotomy items of the Index of Learning Styles (ILS), and 55 views statements, based on view towards mathematics inventory (VTMI) were used a the beginning and at the end of the academic year 2012/13. The learning outcome wa based on 50 items of Mathematics Achievement Test (MAT) as constructed by the researcher, which was administered at the end of the academic year along with ILS and views questionnaires. As statistical tool, a descriptive and inferential analysis wa employed to examine the relationship between students' beginning and end learning styles. It also examined the students’ beginning and end views towards mathematics by gender, and academic groups. Students' changes of learning styles status and