Motivation of students towards mathematics in trade vocational high schools in Ankara : an exploratory study
Author
Ergün, Dilay
Advisor
Kim, Minkee
Date
2012Publisher
Bilkent University
Language
English
Type
ThesisItem Usage Stats
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Show full item recordAbstract
The primary aim of the study is to explore the factors that affect motivation of
students towards mathematics in trade vocational high schools in Ankara as
perceived by their mathematics teachers. The teachers’ opinions about the common
types of motivation (intrinsic or extrinsic) among students, the role and place of the
goal orientation theory on students’ motivation towards mathematics lessons was
investigated.
This study was conducted with an exploratory mixed-methods design which included
two phases. Trade vocational high schools which consisted of Accounting and
Financing department were the sample of this study. In the first phase, in a trade
vocational high school in Çankaya, Turkey, a focus group interview was conducted
with seven mathematics teachers. Afterwards, findings from the interview were
analyzed by content analysis and a survey was developed based on these findings. In the second phase of the study, data were collected by surveying 31 mathematics
teachers from six trade vocational high schools in Ankara, Turkey.
The results showed that external incentives are more efficient than internal incentives
(curiosity or interest) for trade vocational high school students. The most effective
factor was found to be that students were studying mathematics in order to obtain a
high school diploma. The second most effective factor was that students valued
getting rewards from their teachers. The goal orientation theory ranked below
extrinsic motivation, indicating that students are less motivated by a desire of having
skills for a professional life. Results showed that students did not have sufficient
confidence in their mathematical ability to be successful in lessons or to want a
professional life. Furthermore, the teachers stated that the curriculum as a whole does
not satisfy students’ professional needs, as it is not suitable for students’ mathematics
knowledge level.
Keywords
Motivationintrinsic motivation
extrinsic motivation
the goal orientation theory
trade vocational high schools
accounting and financing department
opinions of mathematics teachers
mathematic curriculum in trade vocational high schools