scholarly journals Relationship between Emotional Intelligence and Academic Achievement in Algebra of First Year Mathematics and Science Education Students at the Copper belt University in Zambia

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 171-195
Author(s):  
Allan Musonda

This study examined the relationship between algebraic competences and emotional intelligence offirst yearBachelor of Science in mathematics and science education students at Copperbelt University in Zambia. All (143) first year Bachelor of Science in mathematics and science education students, in 2016, were purposively selected for the study. The study was motivated by evidence that students generally do not perform well in their first year university mathematics examinations despite the students having very good university entry grades in secondary school mathematics. This poor academic performance may be due to many factors. However, this study identified and focused on emotional intelligence as one such factor. Emotional intelligence is defined as the ability to identify, assess and manage the emotions of one’s self, of others and of groups. It is argued that emotional intelligence represents an ability to reason with emotions and to use emotions to facilitate thought. On the other hand, Algebra was chosen as the focus of the study because of its centrality to the whole offirst yearuniversity mathematics content. Algebra is found in all branches of mathematics directly or indirectly. Therefore, the study explored the algebraic competences of the first year students and examined possible relationships with their emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence was measured using the Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Test (SSEIT), and algebraic competences were measured through a Grade 12 level algebra achievement test and a university level algebra achievement test constructed by the researcher. Data were analysed using non-parametric statistical techniques: Spearman’s Rank Order Correlation (rho) and the Mann-Whitney U Test. Results showed that there is a significant positive correlation between Grade 12 level andfirst yearuniversity level algebraic competences. Results also showed that there is no significant relationship between students’ algebraic competences and their emotional intelligence. Furthermore, the study reviewed that female students have higher levels of emotional intelligence than their male counterparts.Published online: 30 November 2017


Author(s):  
Rebecca Ufonabasi Etiubon

The study investigated career choice determinants and academic achievement of first year science education students of the  University of Uyo. It was an ex-post facto research design with three research questions and three hypotheses guiding the study. The population of the study was 634 undergraduate science education students in the 2016/2017 academic session. One hundred and twenty-four (124)first year students randomly selected across the five units of the department (integrated science, physics chemistry, biology and mathematics) formed the sample size for the study. Questionnaire was the instrument for data collection. The data collected were analysed using mean and standard deviation, ANOVA and MANOVA. Instrument reliability using Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient was 0.82.  The findings of the study showed that students find themselves tied down to rigid programme schedules that do not give them room to fully concentrate on their areas of specialization. This adds to schooling burden and dampens the excitement they originally came into the programme with. The study also found that   due to lack of information on various career choices students lose interest easily even though their choices were on the career choices they made.  Parental desire causes students to come out with poor results at the end of semester and graduation. It was also found that gender is not a significant factor on the problems encountered. The result further showed that different units of the department have significant influence on the problems encountered. It was recommended amongst others, that proper orientation/counseling be given to students to enable them cope with workload challenges at the commencement of the programme in the  different units of the department.  


2009 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
pp. 538-550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nora S. Newcombe ◽  
Nalini Ambady ◽  
Jacquelynne Eccles ◽  
Louis Gomez ◽  
David Klahr ◽  
...  

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