SELF EFFICACY AND PROBLEM SOLVING ABILITY IN MATHEMATICS: A CORRELATIONAL STUDY

Abstract

The present study is aimed to investigate the relationship between self efficacy and problem solving ability in mathematics among secondary school students. Descriptive survey method was used to conduct this study. It adopted random sampling technique and selected 120 secondary school students (54 male & 66 female) of class IX from Yamuna Nagar district of Haryana.  Self efficacy scale developed & standardized by Dr. G.B. Mathur & R. K. Bhatnagar and Problem-solving ability test developed & standardized by N. Dubey were used by the investigator to collect the data. Pearson Co-Efficient of correlation and t-test were used for data analysis in the present study. Finding revealed that a positive and significant relationship between self efficacy and problem solving ability was found.  As a result this paper exhibited many strategies which can be used to foster the self efficacy among students. Variety of study strategies, and monitoring exercises should be provided to develop the problem solving ability among students so that students’ effective learning & achievements can be ensured.