Post-primary students' images of mathematics: a focus on the qualitative data

A questionnaire survey was conducted as part of a PhD study investigating post-primary students' images of mathematics in Ireland. A definition of image of mathematics was adopted from Lim (1999) and Wilson (2011). Students' images of mathematics were hypothesized to include attitudes, beliefs, motivation, self-concept, emotions and past experiences regarding mathematics. A questionnaire was created with both quantitative and qualitative aspects. This paper focuses on the qualitative facet by reviewing students' responses to the open-ended questions according to the five categories of image of mathematics found by Lim (1999). The qualitative data provides a more in-depth insight into Irish students' images of mathematics. Findings from the qualitative data afford an innovative insight into post-primary mathematics education from the student perspective, thus offering a means for mathematics educators to respond to students' needs and encourage Irish post-primary students' engagement with mathematics.