| The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of two second-year algebra textbooks on changes in secondary students' attitudes as measured by the Mathematics Attitude Inventory (MAI). The University of Chicago School Mathematics Program's (UCSMP) Advanced Algebra textbook (1994, Field Trial Version) was used by the experimental group, and a traditional textbook, Algebra Two with Trigonometry (1983, Merrill Publishing Company) was used by the control group. The UCSMP textbooks were some of the first textbooks to demonstrate alignment with the NCTM Standards. Because a stated theme of the NCTM Standards was fostering positive student attitudes, this study investigated the influence of a Standards-based textbook on change in student attitude toward mathematics.;The MAI, developed by R. S. Sandman, was used to compare the attitudes of the two groups. This study compared the following five areas of attitude: anxiety toward mathematics, value of mathematics in society, self-concept in mathematics, enjoyment of mathematics, and motivation in mathematics. A two tailed t-test was applied to compare the attitudes of the two groups based on pretest and posttest scores.;Data were collected from 95 students in a north Mississippi high school. Results of the study showed a statistically significant difference between the groups in the area of value of mathematics in society. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in the other four areas: anxiety toward mathematics, self-concept in mathematics, enjoyment of mathematics, and motivation in mathematics. |
