Maths anxiety in a first year introductory quantitative skills subject at a regional Australian university – establishing a baseline

Gyuris, Emma, Everingham, Yvette, and Sexton, Justin (2012) Maths anxiety in a first year introductory quantitative skills subject at a regional Australian university – establishing a baseline. International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education, 20 (2). pp. 42-54.

[img] PDF (Published Version) - Published Version
Restricted to Repository staff only

View at Publisher Website: http://ojs-prod.library.usyd.edu.au/inde...
 
8
6


Abstract

Mathematics anxiety is a well recognized and for many students a performance inhibiting impediment. As part of a larger study aimed to guide interventions to improve quantitative skills of science students we investigated students' entry-level maths anxiety, explored its effect on their performance and observed how anxiety and different assessment schedules interacted to affect performance in a first year compulsory quantitative skills subject. Students' preferred discipline significantly correlated with anxiety, and students' performance in invigilated assessment items correlated with mathematics evaluation anxiety, although the pattern of correlation was found to be different in the two years of the study. The many confounding variables that impact on student anxiety and performance make it difficult to identify the extent to which scores achieved on the different facets of Abbreviated Mathematics Anxiety Scale can affect a students' final score in a compulsory first year quantitative skills subject. Nevertheless, a baseline understanding has been established which, at the very least, raises an awareness of potential issues associated with maths anxiety that can in turn be used to guide any subsequent interventions.

Item ID: 24807
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 2200-4270
Keywords: mathematics anxiety, mathematics performance, science education
Date Deposited: 01 Feb 2013 06:26
FoR Codes: 13 EDUCATION > 1302 Curriculum and Pedagogy > 130212 Science, Technology and Engineering Curriculum and Pedagogy @ 100%
SEO Codes: 93 EDUCATION AND TRAINING > 9301 Learner and Learning > 930101 Learner and Learning Achievement @ 100%
Downloads: Total: 6
More Statistics

Actions (Repository Staff Only)

Item Control Page Item Control Page