Analysing interrelationship of factors influencing students’ success in learning mathematics using Fuzzy-TISM

Students' success in learning mathematics are influenced by various factors. Amongst the most important factors are the teaching factor, the student factor, the social factor, the university factor, and the educational supports factor. These factors are interrelated as one factor may have influenced or may be influenced by other factors, depending on the direction of influence. In the context of identifying success factors in learning mathematics particularly among students majoring in a Mathematics Degree Program in UiTM Shah Alam, examining the interrelationship between factors, the direction of influence of these factors are crucial. In addition, the classification of the factors in terms of the driving and dependence power need to be examined as well. For this purpose, this paper highlights the application of the Fuzzy Total Interpretive Structural Modelling (Fuzzy-TISM) in investigating the afore-mentioned elements in relation to the five dimensions of success factors and the corresponding subfactors based on survey responses involving thirty-five randomly selected final-year mathematics students at the College of Computing, Informatics, and Mathematics, UiTM Shah Alam. The results indicated that the main factors, namely the teaching factor, student factor, social factor, university factor, and the educational supports factor exhibits equal level of influence on one another. Further investigation on subfactors with respect each main factor was carried out. Specifically, in relation to Student Factor, interest to math course, study skills and self-motivation turned out to be the driving factors that influence or enhance students’ time management and mathematics skill/background.