Students' images of mathematics: the role of parents' occupation

A questionnaire survey was conducted as part of a 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 proposed to include attitudes, beliefs, motivation, self-concept, emotions and past experiences regarding mathematics. This paper focuses on one aspect of the study; the relationship between students’ images of mathematics and parents’ occupation. Some emergent findings regarding this relationship are presented and discussed.