Effects of Math Olympiad Training on Middle-School Female Students’ Confidence in Mathematics

Abstract

This thesis explores the effects of math Olympiad training on middle-school female students’ confidence in mathematics. In general, studies on gender and mathematics show that boys, starting at the middle-school level, often perform better than girls in math and science. At the same time, others are convinced that the gender-related patterns in math attitudes and achievement have changed markedly over recent years. However, participation rates of girls in advanced mathematics contests and Olympiads show that in some countries, such as the United States, gender equity in mathematics is still far from reality. Research suggests that one reason for this gap in participation might be a lack of confidence, which may be resulting from insufficient support from society, family, and school. Based on research undertaken by this thesis, a math Olympiad training program for middle school girls was developed and tested to determine its effect on the participants’ confidence in mathematics. The results show a clear positive increase in the level of mathematical confidence among the study participants as a result of this training.