PROJECT PROPOSAL

EFFECT OF ARITHMETICAL ABILITY ON THE

ACHIEVEMENT IN MATHEMATICS AT

SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS OF

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DISTRICT

NAME: DHANANJAY KUMAR

ENROLLMENT NO: 136858505

SUBJECT CODE: AMT 01

SUBMITTED TO

INDIRA GANDHI NATIONAL OPEN

UNIVERSITY, IGNOU MAIDAN GARHI,

0|Page
NEW DELHI — 110068

1|Page
INTRODUCTION

Mathematics is significant in our daily lives because we use a lot of what we were taught

in our daily activities. For instance tiling floors may be done by figuring the size of the

area. Being able to figure out percentages can come in handy when faced with nutrition

labels. Road signs and recipe books feature fractions that tell us the distance to our

destination or how much of an ingredient to put in a dish. Calculating monthly bills

requires math. Placing pictures on a wall and making certain they are hanging straight

takes some knowledge of geometry.

Mathematics is the oldest of all sciences that have developed through the ages having a

direct impact on the quality of human life in our planet. It is known to all of us that

arithmetic is the basic branch of mathematics and numerical concept is at the root of each

and every mathematical concept. However, arithmetical ability and numerical ability may

influence pupils’ achievement in mathematics. Several studies are done to find out how

achievements of the pupils are influenced by their mathematical ability and numerical

ability. The national policy of education (1986) has also considered the importance of

mathematics in general education and suggests that ‘mathematics should be visualized as

the vehicle to train a child to think, reason, analyze and to articulate logically.

The ability of do something is the quality acquired skill or talent. Study habit always

creates talent and skill of problem solving techniques. Study habit is a well planned and

deliberate pattern of study which has attained form of consistency on the part of the

student towards understanding academic subjects and passing at examination (Pauk,

1962; Deese, 1959; Akinboye, 1974). Rastogi(1983) investigated the influence of

2|Page
command over basic arithmetical skill on mathematics achievement. He observed that

poor command over basic arithmetical skill was to be an important cause of

backwardness in mathematics.

The investigator observed that the relation between Achievement in mathematics and

Achievement in arithmetic is yet to be explored. Kaur(1985) analyzed abstract concepts

in mathematics and isolated the figural angular factor and numerical facility factor as

dominant factors in learning mathematics and thus achievement in mathematics in case of

high school student. Sumangala(1995) has studied 750 students of class IX in Kerala and

found that the numerical ability, numerical reasoning , ability to choose symbols, spatial

ability and abstract reasoning abilities to be significantly correlated to the achievement in

mathematics. According to Olayinka (1996) and Yahaya (2003), passing examination to

secure certificates either for admission into higher institution or secure good jobs is the

main goal of education to many people and not the acquisition of knowledge and skills

through studying.

On the basis of the review of related literature, studies on effect of Arithmetical Ability

on the Achievement in Mathematics at Secondary Stage in distt.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM have not been conducted so far. Therefore, the investigator

feels it important to conduct a research on effect of Arithmetical Ability on the

Achievement in Mathematics at Secondary Stage in distt. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.

3|Page
OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The following objectives are formulated for the proposed study:

 To study the significant difference of achievement in mathematics and arithmetic

ability of IX standards students when they will be classified according to their

sex.

 To study the significant difference of achievement in mathematics and

arithmetical ability of IX standards students when they will be classified

according to the medium of instruction.

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

The present study will be designed to undertake the analytic study on effect of

Arithmetical Ability on the Achievement in Mathematics at Secondary Stage in distt.

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM. The methodology of the study comprises research

method, sample, data collection, tool used for data collection, and methods of data

analysis.

Research Method

The normative survey method of research on stratified random technique will be

employed to carry out this piece of research work.

4|Page
Sample

The sample will be comprised of 20 boys and 20 girls of standard IX from different

secondary schools of distt. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM.

Data collection

The investigator will be collected data by visiting the schools.

Tool used for data collection

The following tools will use in the present study:

(A) Mathematics achievement test: This shall has its content based on senior

secondary mathematics syllabus and contains multiple choice items and validated

with the assistance some senior secondary school teachers

(B) Arithmetic ability questionnaire: This will be constructed and validated with

the assistance of some senior secondary school teachers.

Methods of data analysis

In this proposed study, various statistical tool and techniques will be used according to

the requirement of the study.

5|Page