Factors influencing first-year students' success in mathematics

Abstract Qualitative data from lecturers and students were used to identify factors which were perceived as making the most important contributions to students' academic success or failure in first-year mathematics courses. The study was conducted in three phases involving exploratory open-ended questionnaires, Likert-type questionnaires, and interviews. The results highlight both areas of similarities and areas of differences in lecturers' and students' perceptions about influences on student success and failure. While both students and lecturers acknowledged the importance of motivation, differences in perceptions suggest further research is needed in the areas of active learning, help-seeking, and student effort and workload.