Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Do advanced mathematics skills predict success in biology and chemistry degrees?

Adkins, Michael; Noyes, Andrew

Do advanced mathematics skills predict success in biology and chemistry degrees? Thumbnail


Authors

ANDREW NOYES ANDREW.NOYES@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK
Professor of Education



Abstract

The mathematical preparedness of science undergraduates has been a subject of debate for some time. This paper investigates the relationship between school mathematics attainment and degree outcomes in biology and chemistry across England, a much larger scale of analysis than has hitherto been reported in the literature. A unique dataset which links the National Pupil Database for England (NPD) and Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) data is used to track the educational trajectories of a national cohort of 16-year-olds through their school and degree programmes. Multilevel regression models indicate that students who completed advanced mathematics qualifications prior to their university study of biology and chemistry were no more likely to attain the best degree outcomes than those without advanced mathematics. The models do, however, suggest that success in advanced chemistry at school predicts outcomes in undergraduate biology and vice versa. There are important social background differences and the impact of the university attended is considerable. We discuss a range of possible explanations of these findings.

Citation

Adkins, M., & Noyes, A. (2018). Do advanced mathematics skills predict success in biology and chemistry degrees?. International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, 16(3), 487-502. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-016-9794-y

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Dec 25, 2016
Online Publication Date Jan 13, 2017
Publication Date 2018-02
Deposit Date Jan 12, 2017
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education
Print ISSN 1571-0068
Electronic ISSN 1573-1774
Publisher Springer Verlag
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 16
Issue 3
Pages 487-502
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s10763-016-9794-y
Keywords Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry, Degree outcomes, Multilevel modelling
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/840425
Publisher URL http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10763-016-9794-y
Additional Information The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10763-016-9794-y.

Files





You might also like



Downloadable Citations