Investigating the Prevalence of Mathematics Anxiety and its Relationship to Gender Among Grade 7 Students in Jamaica

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 48-100
Author(s):  
Lois George ◽  
Damiel Dowdie

This paper presents findings from a quantitative, survey research study that investigated the prevalence of mathematics anxiety (MA) in two Grade 7 cohorts and how students’ MA compared by gender. The research sample consisted of 467 Grade 7 students (276 females and 186 males) from two high schools in Jamaica. The data were collected using the Modified Abbreviated Math Anxiety Scale (mAMAS) and analyzed using descriptive statistics and a Mann-Whitney U test. The results showed that students experienced a range of MA (Low, Slight, Moderate, and High). Most students experienced Slight MA and 7.5% of the students reported High MA. Another key finding was that the MA distributions for males and females were not statistically significant. Considering the relatively high percentage of students who reported high MA, additional research involving more schools relating to prevalence of MA is warranted.

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 144
Author(s):  
Eva Meizarra Puspita Dewi ◽  
Eka Damayanti ◽  
Andi Halimah ◽  
Novita Maulidya Jalal

Abstract:This study aims to investigate the psychological conditions of parents in assisting children in learning during the implementation of Study from Home (SFH) in Makassar City and Gowa Regency. This study used quantitative survey research. The samples were 159 parents who were selected by random sampling. The instrument used was a questionnaire containing closed, semi-closed, and open-ended questions distributed using Google forms. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results showed that parents considered SFH as a moment to accompany and be closer with their children. The parents' perception of online learning was less effective (36.8%) for their children because of limited internet access (57.9%), many distractions from home (34%), and the parents did not understand the matter (17.6). The children’s complaints during SFH were: not being able to play and do homework in groups (37.1%), lot of tasks (homework) (32.1%), preferred taught by teachers directly (29.6%) and felt bored (29.6%). The parents perceived SFH as follows; feeling comfortable with family (62.9%), bored with routine (31.4%), increased workload (18.9%). However, the physical complaints were less because the parents’ role was powerful in accompanying the children during SFH. Moreover, the family harmony increased with this moment. This study recommends that parents continue the habits to assist children in learning.Abstrak:Tujuan dari penelitian ini adalah untuk memperoleh gambaran kondisi psikologis orang tua saat mendampingi anak belajar selama Study from Home (SFH) di Kota Makassar dan Kabupaten Gowa. Penelitian ini merupakan penelitian kuantitatif jenis survey. Jumlah sampel yakni 159 orang tua yang terpilih secara random sampling. Pengumpulan data menggunakan kusioner yang berisi pertanyaan tertutup, semi tertutup dan pertanyaan terbuka yang disebarkan menggunakan google formulir. Data yang terkumpul dianalisis menggunakan statistik deskriptif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa SFH dimaknai oleh orang tua sebagai moment untuk mendampingi dan lebih dekat dengan anak. Orang tua merasakan metode daring kurang efektif (36,8%) bagi anaknya, sebab: akses internet yang terbatas (57,9%), banyak gangguan dirumah (34%), dan orangtua tidak memahami materi pelajaran anak (17,6). Keluhan yang dirasakan oleh anak selama SFH adalah: tidak bisa bermain dan kerja kelompok (37,1%), banyak tugas (32,1%), lebih suka guru yang ajar (29,6%), dan bosan (29,6%). Adapun orangtua memaknai SFHberupa; perasaan nyaman dengan keluarga (62,9%), bosan dengan rutinitas (31,4%), beban kerja bertambah (18,9%). Namun demikian, keluhan fisik tidak terlalu dirasakannya karena peran orangtua sangat kuat dalam mendampingi keluarga selama SFH, bahkan merasa bahwa dengan moment ini keharmonisan keluarga menjadi meningkat. Oleh karena itu direkomendasikan bagi orangtua untuk meneruskan kebiasaan yang sudah terbentuk yakni mendampingi anak belajar.


2004 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 349-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed M. Abdel-Khalek ◽  
Joaquin Tomás-Sabádo ◽  
Juana Gómez-Benito

Summary: To construct a Spanish version of the Kuwait University Anxiety Scale (S-KUAS), the Arabic and English versions of the KUAS have been separately translated into Spanish. To check the comparability in terms of meaning, the two Spanish preliminary translations were thoroughly scrutinized vis-à-vis both the Arabic and English forms by several experts. Bilingual subjects served to explore the cross-language equivalence of the English and Spanish versions of the KUAS. The correlation between the total scores on both versions was .93, and the t value was .30 (n.s.), denoting good similarity. The Alphas and 4-week test-retest reliabilities were greater than .84, while the criterion-related validity was .70 against scores on the trait subscale of the STAI. These findings denote good reliability and validity of the S-KUAS. Factor analysis yielded three high-loaded factors of Behavioral/Subjective, Cognitive/Affective, and Somatic Anxiety, equivalent to the original Arabic version. Female (n = 210) undergraduates attained significantly higher mean scores than their male (n = 102) counterparts. For the combined group of males and females, the correlation between the total score on the S-KUAS and age was -.17 (p < .01). By and large, the findings of the present study provide evidence of the utility of the S-KUAS in assessing trait anxiety levels in the Spanish undergraduate context.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 69
Author(s):  
Endang Wahyuningrum ◽  
Disti Pratiwi ◽  
Sandra Sukmaning Adji

The purpose of this study was to describe the creative thinking skills of junior high school students based on mathematics anxiety and gender. Aspects of creative thinking skills used in this study are fluency, flexibility, and novelty. This research is a qualitative descriptive study. The instruments used were open-ended questions consisting of algebra and geometry questions, mathematics anxiety questionnaires, and interview guidelines. The study was conducted in class IX E of SMPI Al Azhar 12 Rawamangun Jakarta. The subject of this study consisted of four students, they are male student with low mathematics anxiety, female student with low mathematics anxiety, male student with medium mathematics anxiety, and female student with medium mathematics anxiety. The results of the mathematics anxiety questionnaire showed that none of the students in class IX E had high math anxiety. There are differences in the fulfillment of aspects of creative thinking in terms of differences in mathematics anxiety and gender levels. Students with low math anxiety fulfill aspects of fluency, flexibility, and novelty in algebra and geometry questions. Students with medium math anxiety fulfill aspects of fluency and flexibility both in algebra and geometry questions. Female students fulfill aspects of fluency, flexibility, and novelty both in algebra and geometry questions. Male students fulfill aspects of fluency and flexibility in algebra questions, while in geometry questions the aspects that are fulfilled are fluency, flexibility, and novelty.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Faiq Zulfikar Hadi ◽  
Maman Fathurrohman ◽  
Cecep Anwar Hadi

This research is conducted by the low mathematics critical thinking ability of students in junior high schools, especially in  VII grade .Students of VII grade commonly are transitioning from elementary school to junior high school could be a reason how low students of VII grade on mathematic critical thingking ability. The low ability mathematics critical thingking one of caused by mathematics anxiety. This study aims to find a relationship between math anxiety and mathematics critical thinking ability of VII grade at SMPN 5 Serang City. The method of this research is quantitative descriptive by making 110 students from VII grade as a sample. The data were collected using questionnaire and test. The result of this study indicate that 1) the ammount of correlation between math anxiety with critical thingking ability is -0,5991> rs table 0,1695, which means there is a significant and negative relationship between anxiety and critical thingking ability 2) the average of students’s mathematics critical thingking ability is different where score between students with low anxiety have a better score than student with mid anxiety and low anxiety,and students with mid anxiety have a better score than students with high anxiety, and students with mid anxiety have a better score than students with high anxiety.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 86-99
Author(s):  
Truong Minh Hoa

Learner autonomy has become the prevailing theme of language education for nearly four past decades, especially its three constructs such as responsibilities, abilities and behaviors. Thus, the current study embraced salient traits of a survey research design to scrutinize these constructs as appraised by the Vietnamese tertiary learners. The study recruited the participation of 80 English-majored students at Hung Vuong University, Vietnam. Their appraisal was elucidated by a quantitative instrument, that is, a 28-item questionnaire whose descriptive statistics were yielded by SPSS 22.0. The study found that a greater proportion of the informants ultimately recognized their autonomous responsibilities, acknowledged their autonomous abilities, and estimated some autonomous behaviors both inside and outside the classroom. Brief conclusion was made at the end of the paper.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dr. Rajesh Ganesan ◽  
Pankaj Singh

Mathematics Anxiety is an irrational fear of Mathematics. Mathematics Anxiety is defined as “the presence of a syndrome of emotional reactions to arithmetic and mathematics” (Dreger & Aiken, 1957, p.344). It creates a feeling of tension, apprehension, or fear that interferes with performance in Mathematics and also results in ‘Mathematics-Avoidance’. Further, ‘Mathematics-Avoidance’ leads to less competency, exposure and practice of Mathematics, leaving students more anxious and mathematically, unprepared to achieve. Math anxiety is a learned response that inhibits cognitive performance in the math classroom. It is widespread among students from elementary age through college. Students suffering from math anxiety have difficulty performing calculations and maintaining a positive outlook on mathematics. Math anxiety is the result of a cycle of math avoidance that begins with negative experiences regarding mathematics. These students avoid Mathematic courses and tend to feel negative towards Mathematics and this also affects student’s overall confidence level. However, Behaviour Modification techniques have proven instruments that can reduce various types of anxieties and Super Brain Yoga for improving integration of the brain. This is a case study of a student of IX standard, Kendriya Vidalaya, Who was referred by his Mathematics teacher and parent complaining that the student becomes anxious whenever he encounters Mathematic problems. After taking Math autobiography it was revealed that the anxiety began due to harsh handling by father while teaching Mathematics. Students score in recent Mathematic exam was noted very low i.e 12/40. His Mathematics Anxiety was assessed by using Suri, Monroe and Koc’s (2012) short Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale. Student’s hemispheric dominance of the brain was measured by using Taggart and Torrance’s Human Information Processing Survey (1984). This student was treated with Behaviour Modification techniques and Super Brain Yoga for six weeks. Interventions used are: (i) Reduction of Rate of Breathing (Ganesan, 2012). (ii) Jacobson Progressive Muscle Relaxation (Jacobson, 1938) (iii) Laughter Technique (Ganesan, 2008b). (iv) Develpoment of Alternate Emotional Responses to the Threatening Stimulus (Ganesan, 2008a). (v) Super Brain Yoga (Sui, 2005). The anxiety level and performance in Mathematics exam was reassessed after six weeks. Results showed that Mathematics Anxiety was significantly reduced (60 to 20, 40%) and he performed better in the Mathematics exam (12/40 to 24/40, 30%). After reassessing student on Human Information Processing Survey by Taggart and Torrance (1984), it was found that student’s dominant information processing mode was ‘Integrated’ and this shows that Behaviour Modification techniques and Super Brain Yoga are efficient in treating Mathematics Anxiety.


Author(s):  
James WOJUADE

This study examined insecurity as the bane of Nigeria’s socio-economic development. The study adopted a descriptive survey research. The study was guided by two research questions. The participants for this study comprised one hundred and fifty (150) educated people/youth selected from Ona-Ara local government area of Ibadan metropolis. Insecurity as the bane of socio-economic development in Nigeria questionnaire was the instrument used for this study. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts and percentage. Findings revealed that ethno-religious conflicts and unemployment are among the factors responsible for insecurity in Nigeria. Social dislocation, population displacement, disruption of family and communal life are some of the impacts of insecurity on Nigeria’s socio-economic development. It is recommended that government should ensure that social security programme is pursued and systematically implemented to ensure that the populace meets their basic needs.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Basso

Anxiety in pre-service elementary teachers (PSETs) often affects their views of mathematics as well as the practices and teaching methods they choose to use. Due to this, many PSETs often choose to use traditional teaching methods in the classroom which can have counteractive effects on their math anxiety (Harper &amp; Daane, 1998; Olson &amp; Stoehr, 2019; Tooke &amp; Lindstrom, 1998). The goal of this paper is to better comprehend and discover the ways in which math anxiety in PSETs impacts their teaching and whether there are ways to limit these negative emotions about mathematics. Much of the research on this topic look at either PSETs’ beliefs/views or their teaching practices. The focus of this paper will be to analyze the relationship between their beliefs/views and their teaching such to look at how one influences the other or if they have a symbiotic relationship as well as looking at how one’s individual psychology influences these beliefs/views. Using a symbolic interactionist lens, the arguments provide evidence from the literature that looks at the relationships between people and others. Moreover, in touching upon these relationships, this paper also delves into gender issues and stereotypes that have influenced these relationships. The implications of this paper deal primarily with the impact of gender stereotypes on teaching and anxiety as well as what teaching practices are most favourable when looking at reducing anxiety levels in PSETs.


Author(s):  
Prasun Chakraborty* ◽  
◽  
Anirban Chowdhury ◽  

Indian society changed after digitalization and economical reformation. Currently, the Facebook is the most popular social media in India. The political cartoonist took that platform as an opportunity to share their thoughts and raise socio-political issues through their cartoons. The aim of the paper is to study responses (likingness and affective) to political cartoons in respect to responsiveness towards cartoons, gender, and socio-economic status. The study was conducted among 875 Indians from different parts of India including males and females with various socio-economic backgrounds. The data captured in the form of sentiments (love, sadness, angry and happiness emotions) for each cartoon shared in the Facebook timeline. Then, relevant descriptive statistics were computed using IBM SPSS 20.0 software. Results showed that maximum Facebook users expressed their thoughts about political cartoons through emoticons in terms of like, sad, angry, and happiness. It is found that male user are more likely to be expressive to political cartoons than female user. Mostly user from low and middle socio-economic backgrounds relate themselves with the cartoon scenarios and shown interest than users from higher class of the society. Hence, political socio-political scenarios can be communicated effectively using political cartoons in Facebook as the people of India are relating themselves with various cartoons.


Author(s):  
Arturo García Santillán ◽  
Milka Elena Escalera Chávez ◽  
Josefina Carmen Santana Villegas ◽  
Bertha Yolanda Guzmán Rivas

Abstract.Mathematical knowledge is very important in the lives of people, therefore, it is necessary understand it and make good use of mathematics in everyday life. Therefore, the aim of this work is to identify whether there is a set of latent variables that allow explain the anxiety toward math on students at Instituto Tecnológico de Tuxtepec, Oaxaca. The study is quantitative; and the study sample was formed of 303 college students from several profiles of the social sciences and engineering areas. The instrument utilized, is the scale of Munoz and Mato (2007) and was applied face to face to sample of study, in order to get data that allow us measure mathematics anxiety. The results show that students consider about the exposed variables that, the most prominent variable is the anxiety toward mathematics when faced in real life situations. The results allow us to observe that the studied variables explained 81% of variance that explains the math anxiety; the remaining 19% is explained by other variables that have not been considered in this research. Hence, if the student increases their anxiety in one of those, for example toward compression of mathematical problems, other variables also increase as the results show that there is a direct relationship between them.Keywords: Anxiety, Mathematics, Attitude toward mathematics, mathematics evaluationResumen.Los conocimientos matemáticos son de suma importancia en la vida de las personas, por lo tanto en la actualidad es necesario entender y hacer buen uso de las matemáticas en la vida diaria. El objetivo de este trabajo es identificar si en los alumnos del Instituto Tecnológico de Tuxtepec, existe un conjunto de variables que pueden explicar la ansiedad frente a las matemáticas. El estudio es cuantitativo, la muestra de estudio se conformó de 303 estudiantes del nivel universitario del Instituto Tecnológico de Tuxtepec, Oaxaca, de varios perfiles de ciencias sociales e ingeniería. Se utilizó el cuestionario Muñoz y Mato-Vázquez (2007), para medir la ansiedad a las matemáticas. Los resultados muestran que los estudiantes consideran que de las variables expuestas, la más preponderante es la ansiedad que les causa las matemáticas cuando se encuentran en situaciones de la vida real. Los resultados dejan ver que las variables analizadas contribuyen con el 81% a determinar la ansiedad hacia las matemáticas, el 19% restante es explicado por otras variables que no han sido consideradas en esta investigación. De ahí que, si el estudiante incrementa su ansiedad en una de ellas por ejemplo hacia la compresión de los problemas matemáticos, las otras variables también se incrementan ya que los resultados muestran que hay una relación directa entre ellas.Palabras clave: Ansiedad, Matemáticas, Actitud hacia las matemáticas, Evaluación matemática.


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