EXPLORING MATHEMATICAL ENCULTURATION IN NATIONAL, NATIONAL

TYPE, AND NATIONAL RELIGIOUS SCHOOLS IN MALAYSIA AND ITS IMPACT ON

MATHEMATICS ACHIEVEMENT
Name of School: ___________________________________________
DIRECTIONS: State your response with fill the blank or mark () in plot those related.

SECTION A: DEMOGRAPHY
a. Age at January 2011 ______years

b. Gender:
Male

c. Religion:

Female
Buddhist
Islamic
Hindu
Christian
Taoism
Others: __________ (Please specify)

d. Type of School:
National
National Type
National religious School
e. On a normal school day, how much time do you spend before or after school doing each of
these things?
Circle one box in each row.
No
1
2
3

Statement
watching television and videos
playing computer games
playing or talking with friends outside of

No time
1
1
1

Less
than 1
hour
2
2
2

1-2
hour

3-5
hour

3
3
3

4
4
4

More
than 5
hour
5
5
5

4
5
6
7
8

school
doing jobs at home
playing sports
reading a book for enjoyment
studying mathematics or doing mathematics
homework after school
Watching news or documentaries related to
mathematics.

1
1
1

2
2
2

3
3
3

4
4
4

5
5
5

f. During the week, how much time before or after school, do you usually spend
Circle one box in each row
No
1
2
3
4

Statement
taking extra lessons in school?
participating in mathematics clubs?
working at a paid job?
taking mathematics tuition outside
school?

No time

Less than
1 hour

1-2 hour

3-5
hour

1
1
1

2
2
2

3
3
3

4
4
4

More
than 5
hour
5
5
5

g. In your secondary school, what was the usual level of mathematics marks/grades that you
received?
No
1
2
3
4

Description

Check ONE
box only

High average ( 75% - 100% )

Above average (50% - 74% )
Average (25% - 49%)
Below average ( 0% - 24% )

h. How far in your education do you expect to achieve?

No
1
2
3
4
5

Description
Vocational and technical certificate
Diploma
Degree (ijazah)
Not sure
I dont care

Check ONE
box only

SECTION B: BELIEF ABOUT MATHEMATICS

B1. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following beliefs about the nature of
mathematics
No

Statement

Mathematics is a collection of rules and

procedures that prescribe how to solve a
problem.

Mathematics involves the remembering

and application of definitions, formulas,
mathematical facts and procedures.

Strongly
Disagree
disagree

Slightly
agree

Agree

Strongly
agree

Mathematics involves creativity and new

ideas.

In mathematics many things can be

discovered and tried out by an individual.

Mathematical problems can be solved

correctly in many ways.

Many aspects of mathematics have

practical relevance.

Mathematics helps solve everyday

problems and tasks.

To do mathematics it requires much

practice.

Mathematics means learning,

remembering and applying.

Slightly

Agree

Strongly

B2. Following statements regarding the ways of beliefs about mathematics

No

Statement

Strongly Disagree

disagree

agree

agree

I have been doing well in mathematics.

I have been interested in mathematics

since primary school.

Good mathematics teachers spark my

interest in mathematics.

I still remember very well my good

mathematics teachers.

Teacher gives encouragement to work

harder.

My teacher contributed to my interest in

mathematics.

7
8
9
10
11

Mathematics is a field of manipulating

numbers and symbols.
Mathematics is important in real life.
Mathematics is a way of thinking using
symbols and equations.
Mathematics is a considered one of the
difficult subjects.
Mathematics is a challenging subject.

17

I believe drills and practice is one of the

best ways of learning mathematics.
Persistence with increases variations leads
understanding.
Mathematics provides foundations for
applied sciences
Symbols and equations used to model the
world.
Teacher really wants us to enjoy learning.

18

Teacher appreciates it when I tried hard.

12
13
14
15

SECTION C: PRACTICES ABOUT MATHEMATICS

C1. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following different ways of studying
mathematics
Strongly
disagree

Disagree

Slightly
agree

Agree

Strongly
agree

When I study for mathematics, I try to

memorize the answers to problems.

To learn mathematics, I try to remember

every step in a procedure.

No.
1

5
6

8
9
10
11
12

Statement
In order to remember the method for
solving a mathematics problem, I go
through examples again and again.

When I am solving mathematics

problems, I often think of new ways to get
the answer.
I think how the mathematics I have learnt
can be used in everyday life.
I try to understand new concepts in
mathematics by relating them to things I
already know.
When I am solving a mathematics
problem, I often think about how the
solution might be applied to other
interesting questions.
When learning mathematics, I try to relate
the work to things I have learnt in other
subjects.
When I study mathematics, I make myself
check to see if I remember the work I
have already done.
When I study mathematics, I try to figure
out which concepts I still have not
understood properly.
When I cannot understand something in
mathematics, I always search for more
information to clarify the problem.
When I study mathematics, I start by
working out exactly what I need to learn.

SECTION D: LANGUAGE
D1. How often do you speak at home using
Language
Malay
English
Mandarin
Tamil
Your second language

Always or
almost always
1
1
1
1
1

Sometimes

Never

2
2
2
2
2

3
3
3
3
3

E4. From your opinion, to what extent would you agree or disagree with each the following
statements about ability to use English in teaching and learning mathematics.

No
1

5
6
7

Statement

Strongly
disagree

Disagree

Slightly
agree

Agree

Strongly
agree

I always use English when discussing

mathematics with my friends in class.
It is easier for me to give opinion in my
own language rather than in English when
discussing mathematics.
I have problems in learning mathematics
in English.
I considered English as an important
subject to learn and it was useful for
everyday communications and as a tool
for mathematics.
I felt that learning mathematics in English
were difficult.
I feel pressured when I have to learn
Mathematics in English.
My teacher uses a lot of English in
teaching Mathematics.

SECTION E: VALUE ABOUT MATHEMATICS