Development and validation of a brief mathematics attitude scale for primary-aged students

In this report I describe the development and validation of a 10-item scale for assessing primary-aged students’ attitudes towards mathematics. A validation of the scale with 774 primary students indicated that the scale comprised three components: a reflection of students’ overall enjoyment of mathematics; their perceptions of its value as a subject area; and perceptions of their ability to cope with their assigned mathematics work. The three components of the current scale were generally found to have acceptable reliability and validity across grades four, five and six. Recommendations for refinements to the scale and for its use with primary–aged students are discussed.