Analysis of Variables Affecting the Attitudes towards Mathematics of Middle School Students by Structural Equation Model

In this study, it was aimed to examine the attitudes towards mathematics of middle school students’ according to grade level, situation of taking supportive and training courses, mother’s education level, father’s education level, household income and mathematics achievement variables. In the study, " Mathematics Attitude Scale" and personal information form developed by researchers were used as data collection tool. The sample of this research consists of 323 students who are from fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth grades of 3 different middle schools in Van province in spring semester of 2016-2017 academic year. They were selected by random sampling. The structural equation model was used in the analysis of the data. According to the analysis results; it has been observed that the students’ grade levels and mathematics achievement of the semester have a direct effect on the attitudes toward mathematics. It has been determined that students’ mother’s education level, father’s education level, situation of taking supportive and training courses, and household income have an indirect effect on the attitudes toward mathematics. It was also found that fifth grade students had higher mathematics attitude scores than eighth grade students