Predictors of Girls’ Performance in Mathematics among Senior High School Students

Abstract:

The study employed the Explanatory Sequential design of the Mixed-Methods approach to investigate the factors that affect female students’ performance in mathematics. Stratified and Simple Random Sampling techniques were used to sample three hundred and fifty-six (356) participants from four different Senior High Schools within the Northern Region to participate in the survey while 12 key informants were selected using the Expert Purposive Sampling technique for key informant interviews. Questionnaires and interview guides were the main instruments used for data collection. Inferential statistics were used to analyse the quantitative data while inductive thematic analysis was used in analysing the qualitative data. The results of the analyses showed that gender stereotypes, the socio-economic status of parents, self-motivation by the female students, the social environment in which the female students find themselves and teacher efficacy were the main factors affecting female students’ performance in mathematics.