Gender Difference in Mathematics Achievement in Korea Singapore: Influence of Sociocultural Factors and Student Attitude Towards Mathematics

Abstract

This study examined, for Korean and Singaporean eight-grade students, if there were significant sociocultural differences that influenced different gender performance levels in mathematics achievement in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) in 2011. From TIMSS 1995 to TIMSS 2011, Korean girls have been consistently underperforming compared with boys, and Singaporean girls have been consistently outperforming the boys in mathematics achievement. Compared to Singapore, Korea maintains a relatively lower gender equity level. This developed a conceptual model to analyze the influence of sociocultural factors and student attitude towards mathematics-on-mathematics achievement for Korean and Singaporean students.

The TIMSS 2011 mathematics achievement scores and student questionnaire responses form 5,165 Korean and 5, 923 Singaporean eight-grade students were analyzed for the study. Inferential statistics such as correlation analysis, factor analysis, multiple regression analysis, and path analysis were conducted for the study. Interviews were conducted individually with 13 Korean students and 2 teachers to substantiate the quantitative analysis of the study.