Factors that influence attitude towards learning of mathematics in the first year of engineering

Abstract

Introduction. The attitude towards learning of the students presents on the learning and the academic performance that has been amply demonstrated. Determining the factors that influence the attitude of students towards learning is very relevant to change negative attitudes or generate positive attitudes that favor their willingness to learn and performance. The present study aims to determine the factors that influence the attitude towards learning in mathematics subjects in the first year of the Engineering career at a Chilean university. Method. The method used contemplated the development of an instrument for measuring relevant factors previously reported in the literature, which was applied to 873 first-year students from the Faculty of Engineering and Sciences of the Diego Portales University in Chile, who took the subjects of Calculus 1 and Algebra and Geometry. A conceptual model is formulated that is analyzed using the Structural Equations tools, under the Partial Least Squares method (PLS). Results. The results indicate that the factors, according to their degree of influence: Motivation to learn, Learning Methodology, Teacher suitability and perception of the Usefulness of the subject, positively influence Attitude towards learning, which in turn influences performance academic, through a factor that captures the student's self-declared Learning. Discussion. The discussion emphasizes the importance of knowing the factors that influence the attitude towards learning, such that establishing actions that influence these factors could favor learning and better performance.