Is Gender Imbalance in Brunei Tertiary Education Student Populations Caused by Inclusion of Mathematics in the Admission Criteria? Exploring the Personality Characteristics of High Mathematics Achievers

摘要

The study found some connections between personality and mathematics achievement. All the ten personality variables investigated in the present study correlated positively and significantly with mathematics achievement scores. However, only self-efficacy, resiliency, integrity and distortion were good predictors of achievement in mathematics. Female participants performed far much better on a mathematics test than their male counterparts. The personality characteristics of high mathematics achieving students differed significantly from those of low math scorers. Based on these findings, we recommend providing early individual and group counselling to vulnerable students at risk of failing mathematics. Educational interventions should also be provided in form of remedial teaching and motivational talks or workshops to sensitise students about the role of personality attributes in mathematics achievement. Further mixed-methods research is desired to gain additional insights into the problem and its solutions.