Record Detail

Psychologists believe that a student’s motivation
is influenced by a number of values/beliefs, interests
and attitudes that can be positive or negative in their
effects. Highly positively motivated students would believe
that the task is of value (value beliefs), also with high
expectations that they would achieve success (expectancy
and self-efficacy beliefs). This article analyzed the affective
factors in particular on the values and expectations of
Malaysian and Singaporean eighth-graders who participated
in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science
Study (TIMSS) in the 2007 in relation to their science
and mathematics achievement. The study explored if these
students’ values and expectation towards science and
mathematics have any correlation with their achievement
in science and mathematics. The data were obtained from
4,466 Malaysian and 4,599 Singaporean Grade 8 students
during TIMSS 2007. Statistical Packages for the Social
Sciences version 17 was used as plug-in along with IEA
International Database analyzer Version 2.0 in data analysis.
A comprehensive investigation of the relationship
between the variables studied provides a clearer picture to
the role played by the variables in affecting students’
achievement in science and mathematics. Educational
implications were also deliberated by comparing these two
countries that have quite a number of similarities and differences
as analyzed from the socio-cultural backgrounds,
geographical structures and educational system.