A Study on the Relationship between Temperament and Mathematics Academic Achievement

Based on a survey on 1620 students in primary school and secondary school., by adopting Eysenck Personality Questionnaire (EPQ), we got the following findings : 1. There is close relationship between emotionality characteristics of temperament and mathematics academic achievement of the subjects at Grade 5 (Primary 5), Grade 8 (Junior Secondary 2), and Grade 10 (Senior Secondary 2). Also there is close relationship between internal-external directivity characteristics of temperament and mathematics academic achievement at Grade 5 and Grade 8. While there is not close relationship between internal-external directivity characteristics of temperament and mathematics academic achievement at Grade 10; 2. There is close relationship between temperament types and mathematics academic achievement of the subjects from the three grades. Superior temperament, which benefit learning mathematics, are sanguine, sanguine-phlegmatic and phlegmatic; While inferior temperament types, which don't benefit learning mathematics, are choleric, melancholic and choleric-melancholic. With the rising of grade, temperament types of benefiting learning mathematics converts from external directivity emotion balance to balance of internal-external directivity emotion stability. While temperament of no benefiting learning mathematics converts from internal directivity emotion balance to balance of internal-external directivity emotion instability; 3. In mathematics education, students' temperament difference, which affects learning mathematics, should be recognized. Mathematics teachers should find out the best teaching ways, forms and methods which are suitable for student's temperament type, so that the students with different temperament types can gain better mathematics academic achievement.