An explanatory model of the beliefs and attitudes towards mathematics: An analysis based on structural equation modeling

This article summarizes the results of an investigation whose purpose was to analyze what aspects of the beliefs and attitudes of students towards mathematics, have greater evidence of relationship with them. A quantitative design was used. Data collection was performed with 506 high school students in Costa Rica. For the analysis of the information, a structural equation model was used. The results show that from the viewpoint of Mathematics problem solving, there is evidence of a relationship between the cognitive, emotional and behavioral components, and attitude toward discipline. Most didactic trends of mathematics' teachers and perception about him presented evidence directly related to beliefs about Mathematics and indirect to attitudes toward the subject. However, it was the image of the student about himself in the discipline which had a higher ratio.