Physics-Mathematics Associations: Evidence from TIMSS Student Achievements

Abstract

The study aimed to determine the extent of associations of physics, mathematics, and between physics and mathematics based on the results of the 2007, 2011, and 2015 Trends in Mathematics and Science Survey achievement tests. Utilizing educational data mining and correlational data analysis (significance set at α = 0.05), this study’s findings revealed that there was a significant positive correlation between elementary physics and secondary physics (r = 0.821, ρ = 0.045), between elementary mathematics and secondary mathematics (r = 0.914, ρ = 0.011), between elementary physics and elementary mathematics (r = 0.914, ρ = 0.011), and between secondary physics and secondary mathematics (r = 0.891, ρ = 0.017). With these findings, the study concluded that physics and mathematics in elementary and high school are significantly associated that physics is not significantly associated with previous-level mathematics and that advanced courses in physics and mathematics are not associated with the secondary counterparts. Furthermore, implications toward physics education in the Philippines are formulated.