Study Orientation Questionnaire in Mathematics (SOM)

While mathematics achievement is a powerful predictor of tertiary success, a student's psychological relationship with the subject is often ignored. This oversight explains a common paradox: high-aptitude learners who underachieve, and lower-aptitude learners who excel.

Research shows that mathematics performance is deeply tied to a student's study orientation. Left unaddressed, negative factors in these areas directly cause underachievement.

The Study Orientation to Mathematics (SOM) evaluates these critical dimensions:

• Psychological Factors: Anxiety, motivation, and mindsets/attitudes.

• Behavioural Habits: Effective time management and study strategies.

• Environmental Influences: Parental expectations alongside the social and physical learning environment.

By pinpointing these specific barriers, the SOM provides clear pathways to overcome them and measurably enhance mathematics performance.

ASSESSMENT SCALES

The SOM consists of the following scales:

• Study Attitude: Learners’ “mathematical world view” about the self, the nature of

  mathematics, and the nature of learning mathematics.

• Mathematics Anxiety: Panic, emotional disturbance, emotional liability, and self-doubt.

• Study Habits in Mathematics: Time management, staying focused, and consistency in study  habits.

• Problem-solving Behaviour in Mathematics: Cognitive and meta-cognitive learning strategies.

• Study Milieu in Mathematics: Non-stimulating environments, restrictive circumstances, and physical problems.

• Information Processing: Understanding mathematics and mathematical conceptualisation.

  This scale is only completed by Grade 10s to 12s.

• Study Orientation in Mathematics: Summary of the above and a measure of a learner’s study orientation.

AREAS OF APPLICATION

The SOM is appropriate for use in educational settings, in schools, and for remedial purposes and can be used by career counsellors, psychologists, and mathematics teachers as well as persons with a solid background in mathematics. It is suited both as a diagnostic instrument to identify potential problems as well as provide study guidelines in mathematics. The SOM can be used to familiarise learners with certain basic principles of effective study in mathematics, as well as the important role of study conditions, including motivation and background factors in academic success.

REPORT OPTIONS

• SOM Interpretive Report for Gr 8 to 9 or Gr 10 to 12: provides a discussion on the learner’s scores on the five (or six, depending on the learner’s grade) scales that make up Study Orientation, as well as an overall SOM score.   

• SOM Parent Comparison Report: This report addendum summarises how a learner’s parent approaches and experiences Mathematics.

• SOM Teacher Comparison Report: This report addendum summarises how a learner’s teacher approaches and experiences Mathematics.