CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION 1.0 Introduction Every day, most of students back from schools do not with empty hand but carry homework to be completed at home and returned to teachers at school on the next lesson. In mathematics classes, homework is common place for students. Mathematics cannot stand without homework or exercises. Mathematics homework is important in helping them to perform well at school. Students achievements in school have always been a concern for parents, student and educators. Many parents perspectives that, homework is important to help student keeps on learning than involve with negative activity outside. Homework or also known as assignment was used to help students practice skills learned in the classroom. Good and Brophy (2003) indicate that many view homework as, An important extension of in-school opportunities to learn (p. 393). Homework is defined as any task assigned to students by school teachers that are meant to be carried out during non-school hours (Cooper, 1989). They are many purposes of homework. Homework can enhance students academic achievements. Homework can make students always prepared before exam. Especially in mathematics, when students always do their homework or exercises, they become familiar with mathematical formula and this is also can help them to remember all the formula. Homework can help them practice self-discipline. This is because they done

their homework by own. Homework can develop their study habits and skills such as

students become more responsible to do their homework during leisure time rather than hangout with their friends without any purpose. Lastly, homework also encourages parental involvement in their childrens school life. This is because students done their homework at home and students need their parents to help them if they do not understand their homework. There have been several studies done on the topic of homework related to student achievement. Overall the result was that in middle and high school grades there is a positive association between the homework and student achievement. In a study conducted by Hill, Spencer, Alston and Fitzgerald (1986), homework was positively linked to student achievement. They indicate that homework is an inexpensive method of improving student academic preparation without increasing staff or modifying curriculum. So, as the pressure to improve test scores continues to increase, so does the emphasis on homework (p. 58).This means that students homework affects their grade. Therefore, if no homework was done then the students achievement was lowered and their grades will suffer. Similarly, students who do their homework will increase their achievement and improve their grades. However, there are problem that occur, such as teachers assigning too much homework per day, become the factor of the negative impact of homework on students that was plagiarism activity among them. Some of students say that not have supportive study environment. This is because of some of parents busy with their work and not has enough time to their children.

1.1 Background of study Nowadays, Malaysia as developing country move forwards in education. There are many types of teaching method that teachers used in order to enhance students performance in schools. One of the ways is by doing homework. Teachers were assign the homework to students and students need to finished at home and submit on the next class. Actually, not all subjects can be done as homework. In this study, the researcher focuses on mathematic homework. This is because mathematic is one of the subject that many of students not interested because of their assumption that mathematic is difficult and hard to score in the examination. When students have negative attitudes towards Mathematics subject, this can make them often did not complete their homework. Mathematic homework is one of the best way because in mathematic subject contains many formula and students need to remember all the formula. By doing homework students will familiar with all the mathematical formula. Besides that, by doing homework it can help them to remember the formula. Sometimes learning mathematic in class is not enough, students need to done their homework to improve their understanding towards the subject that they have learned. Here, when students have positive attitudes towards Mathematics it can make them interested to complete their homework and also can improve their achievement in Mathematics. This research focuses on secondary schools students. As we know, mathematic for secondary students is more complex compared to primary schools. For example, form 4 and form 5 students will learn modern math and also additional math.

This research will show to all students, teachers, parents and educators in Malaysia the effectiveness of mathematic homework to the secondary school students. 1.2 The statement of research problem Nowadays, students are busy with others activities such as uniform unit, sports, club and society. All of this needs commitment from them. In order to fulfill all this activities, students are facing a problem to balance their time. They do not have enough time to complete their homework. Besides that, non-academics activity such as watching television, surfing internet and hanging out with their friends at shopping complex become the priority to them. Not surprisingly, (Posner &Vandell, 1999) from their recent studies find that TV watching and unstructured activities relatively common. This is the biggest influence that can make them not have enough time to complete their homework. There are also become a problem when students need to finish all their homework that are come from difference subject in a certain time. Some of the teachers fail to give explanations to their students to complete their homework. Furthermore, teachers give a lot of homework based on their need in order to complete their syllabus, chapter or topic that need to follow and the notes that need to finish. When students have lot homework to be done, they will become bored and they not interested to finish their homework. They more prefer to release tension by hanging out with friends or some of them finish their homework by copy their friends homework. All of this will become the reason why students not complete their homework and decrease their performance in class. The researcher interested to doing this research because of researcher want to know the relationships between Mathematics homework, attitude and students

achievement. This is because, as we know, mathematic subject need more exercise to make students understand. 1.3 Purpose of the study The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship of Mathematics homework, attitudes and students achievement in Mathematics subject. Specifically, this study intended to achieve the following objectives: 1) To investigate the students perception in doing homework 2) To investigate the students attitudes towards Mathematics subject. 3) To investigate the students level of achievement. 1.4 Research questions This research question is based on the purpose of study that the researcher needs to achieve. It is also as guideline to gather information from the literature review. The questions are: 1) Does Mathematics homework have an impact on achievement in students grades? 2) What are students perceptions on the relationship between attitudes towards Mathematics subject and the achievements in Mathematics? 3) Does homework can affect mathematic achievement of students in schools? 1.5 Significance of the study This study is interested in determining the relationship between Mathematics homework, students attitude and their performance in Mathematics subject. This research can determine either students should done their homework to improve their

achievement in mathematic or not. This study also can help the students identify the relation between attitude and their performance in Mathematics. 1.6 The limitation of the study This research only focuses to one school. It is because if too many school the time consuming for getting feedback from students are needed. Besides that, not all of them can give full cooperation because they have other activity. Another limitation is the cost to make a lot of copies. Because of this limitation the researcher only takes students from two classes as a sample of this research. 1.7 The definitions of terms In order to complete this research, the researcher use some of the term frequently. The term researcher frequently use such as homework. The definition of homework from the Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary mean that work that is given by teachers for students to do at home. The other terms that researcher always use is attitude. Attitude is the way that people think and feel about somebody or something. Attitude also can be describe as the way people behave toward somebody or something that shows how their think or feel. Achievement is one of the term that researcher use in this study. From the Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary give meaning the thing that somebody has done successfully, especially using their own effort and skill.