INFLUENCE OF SOCIAL FACTORS ON STUDENTS INTEREST IN MATHEMATICS IN MAKURDI LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, BENUE STATE: FINDINGS, IMPLICATIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS,

The study focused on influence of social factors on students’ interest in Mathematics in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State. The study employed a descriptive survey design and Simple random sampling was used to 309 secondary school students to be used for the study. Five research questions and five null hypotheses were formulated for the study. Data for the study were collected using Social Factors and Students’ Interest in Mathematics Questionnaire (SFSIMQ). The descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation was used to answer the research questions while the Chi-Square was used to test the null hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. The findings from reveal that, the interest students show in mathematics is partly shaped by the influence of their parents and peers; teachers' attitudes and teaching styles play a role in influencing students' interest in mathematics; socioeconomic status exerts an influence on students' engagement and interest in mathematics; the school environment has a notable influence on students' interest in mathematics and social media plays a role in shaping students' interest in mathematics. The study recommended among others that; parents should create a supportive learning environment at home by showing interest in their children's mathematics education, offering encouragement, and engaging in discussions about the importance of mathematics.