Persistent underachievement in mathematics among senior secondary school students in Bauchi state, Nigeria, has raise concerns about the underlying factors contributing to this issue. Thus, this study investigated the effects of teachers' self-concept, teaching methods, and students' attitudes towards learning relate to students’ performance in mathematics trial examinations. Although existing research has considered these factors individually, their combined effects within the context of Bauchi state remains unexplored. Specifically, this study aimed to determine the predictive strength of these three variables on students’ performance in mathematics. A causal-comparative and correlational research design was used, involving 133 mathematics teachers and 381 senior secondary students from 25 public schools in Bauchi State, selected via random sampling. Four instruments were used: the Mathematics Teaching Methods Questionnaire (MTMQ), Teachers' Self-Concept Questionnaire (TSQ), Students' Attitude towards Mathematics Questionnaire (SAMQ), and Mathematics Trial Examination Records (MTER). Analysis with Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) revealed that teachers' self-concept significantly impacted student performance (path coefficient = 0.066, p = 0.007). Teaching methods and students' attitude were not significant predictors. However, the combined indirect effect of teachers' self-concept and teaching methods was significant (path coefficient = 0.521, p = 0.000).
Achor, E. E., Agogo, P. O., & Orokpo, C. A. (2021). Some Nigerian students’ performance in practical and theoretical chemistry tests as predictors of their performance in Mock-SSCE chemistry examination. Researcher, 3(12), 30-37. Retrieved from https://www.sciencepub.net
Aina, K. (2012). Factors affecting students’ performance in science in Nigeria schools. Retrieved July 17, 2024, from https://www.amazones.com/education/article
Andala, H. O., Digolo, O., & Kamande, M. (2014). Reliability of trial examination prediction of Kenya Certificate of Secondary Examination (KSCE) results. Journal of Research and Method of Education (IOSR-JRME), 4(1), 28-36. Retrieved from www.iosrjournal.org
Apata, T. Z. (2019). Factors contributing to students’ poor performance in mathematics in public secondary schools in Jigawa state, Nigeria. Garu Academic Journal, ATAPOLY Bauchi, Bauchi State, Nigeria, 58-64.
Asamoah, D., Sundeme, B., Atta, E. Q., Adom-Fynn, D., Ebow, E. Y., & Afrane, R. (2020). School-environment, teacher-related, and student-related factors: Critical causes of low academic performance of senior high school students in core mathematics in the Kumasi metropolis of Ghana. Retrieved February 3, 2023, from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/339127211
Asikhia, O. A. (2010). Students and teachers’ perception of the causes of poor academic performance in Ogun State secondary schools (Nigeria): Implications for counseling for national development. European Journal for Social Science, 13(2), 229-241.
Asma’a, B. (2016). Studying teachers’ self-esteem based on revised Janis’s scale application. Linguistic and Literary Broad Research and Innovation, 5(1), 34-47.
Eme, U. J., & Iniubong, E. A. (2011). Development causal model of some psycho- and school variables for mathematics achievement in secondary schools in Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria. Journal of Research in Education and Society, 2(1).
Farooq, M.S., Chaudhry, A.H. Berhanu, G. & Shafiq, M. (2011). Factors affecting students’ quality of academic performance: A case of secondary school level. Journal of quality and technology management.7(2), 1-14.
Hoque, K. E., Banu, H. K., Subramaniam, M. V., & Islam, R. (2020). Relationship between supervision and teachers’ performance and attitude in secondary schools in Malaysia. SAGE Open, 10(2).
Joshua, O. (2014). Predictive Validity of Senior Secondary School Mathematics Mock examination in relation to WAEC and NECO Examination in Bauchi State, Nigeria. Un- published master thesis, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.
Karadag, E. (2012). Basic features of structural equation modeling and path analysis with its place and importance in educational research methodology. Bulgarian Journal of Science and Education (BJSEP), 9(2), 194-212.
Maat, S. M. B., & Zakaria, E. (2010). The learning environment, teacher’s factor, and student attitude towards mathematics among engineering technology students. Journal of Academic Research, 2(2), 16-20.
Mbuva, J. (2016). Exploring teachers’ self-esteem and its effects on teaching, and self-esteem. Journal of Higher Education Theory and Practice, 16(5), 59-68.
Mohamed, L., & Waheed, H. (2011). Secondary students’ attitude towards mathematics in some selected schools of Maldives. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 1(15), 277-281.
Mohamed, N., Mahmood, T. F. P. T., & Ismail, M. N. (2011). Factors that influence students in mathematics achievement. International Journal of Academic Research, 3(3), 49-54.
Moss, S. (2015). Fit indices for structural equation modeling. Retrieved from http://www.sicotest.com/psyarticle.asp?id=277
Ojimba, D. P. (2018). Strategies for teaching and sustaining mathematics as an indispensable tool for ethnological development in Nigeria. Retrieved June 19, 2024, from http://www.meser.org/images/stories/mjss
Okey, I. F., Charles-Ogan, G., & Ochaba, O. O. (2015). Student mathematics and English language mock examination as predictors of school certificate performance in physics. European Centre for Research Training and Development. Retrieved from www.eajournals.org on August 23, 2023.
Omirim, M. S., & Ale, V. M. (2008). Predictors of English and mathematics mock examination results of senior secondary school students’ performance in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Pakistan Journal of Social Science, 5(2), 139-141.
Onyebuenyi, E. N. (2009). Ethnicity, gender, and socio-economic status as moderator variables in the predictive validity of centralized mock examination (Doctoral dissertation, University of Nigeria). Retrieved from www.nebi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1607683305/02/2022.
Ramatlala, T., & Nenty, J. (2014). Gender as a factor in the prediction of performance in Botswana General Certificate of Secondary Education physical education examination by coursework and forecast grades among senior secondary school students. Advances in Physical Education, 2(1), 32-37.
Ringle, C. M., Wende, S., & Becker, J. M. (2024). The use of Smart PLS 4. Bonningstedt: Smart PLS. Retrieved from https://www.smartpls.com
Sadeghi, A., Azizi, S., & Poor, S. M. (2015). Investigating the relationship between positive self-concept and successful academic staffs at the University of Guilan, Iran. Psychology, 6, 2155-21600.
Sampthirao, P. (2016). Self-concept and interpersonal communication. The International Journal of Indian Psychology, 3(6), 178-189.
Simon, B. (2019). Mock examination as predictor of academic performance in mathematics in Gombe State. Unpublished M.Sc. (Ed) thesis, University of Jos, Nigeria.
Tahar, N. F., Ismail, Z., Zamani, N. D., & Adnan, N. (2010). Students’ attitude towards mathematics: The use of factor analysis in determining the criteria. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 8, 481.
Tshabalala, T., & Ncube, A. C. (2013). Causes of poor performance of ordinary level students in mathematics in rural secondary schools in Nkayi district: Learner’s attrition. Onitsha: Africa Fab Publishers.
Umar, A. K., Ismail, A. O., & Mahmood, A. K. (2018). Factors influencing academic performance of students in blended and traditional domains. International Journal of Emerging Technology in Learning (IJET), 13(2), 170-218.
Umar, T. S., Adamu, A. & Abdullahi, M.S. (2014). The Causes of Poor Performance in Mathematics among Public Senior Secondary School Students in Azare Metropolis of Bauchi State, Nigeria.
Walberg, H. J., Fraser, B. J. & Welch, W. W. (1986). A Test of a Model of Educational Productivity among Senior High School Students. The Journal of Educational Research, 79(3): 133139. DOI:10.1080/00220671.1986.10885664.
Wuensch, K. L. (2015). An introduction to path analysis. Retrieved from https://core.edu/psyc/wuenshk/SEM/path.pdf. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
Zakka, E., Ismail, N., & Alhassora, N. S. A. (2025). Effects of Teachers’ Self-Concept, Teaching Methods and Students’ Attitudes on Mathematics Trial Examination Performance in Senior Secondary Schools in Bauchi State, Nigeria. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 15(6), 239-252.
Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s)
Published by Knowledge Words Publications (www.kwpublications.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
