Mathematics self-efficacy in PISA and relevance to teaching and learning in Irish classrooms

The self-efficacy beliefs of students and their impact on school performance have been investigated in PISA studies across a range of areas, including mathematics. Self-efficacy refers to the beliefs one has in one’s abilities and actions to produce desired outcomes. These beliefs influence students’ behavioural, cognitive and motivational engagement in learning. They are a significant factor in dimensions of performance such as application, persistence and resilience in the face of challenges. Mathematics was a main focus of investigation in PISA 2012. Mathematics self-efficacy was strongly associated with mathematics performance at the country level. Countries with higher mean performance in mathematics were those where students are more likely to report feeling confident about being able to solve a range of pure and applied mathematics problems. The relevance of these findings to the teaching and learning of mathematics in the context of Irish classrooms is discussed.