TEST ANXIETY AS A PREDICTOR OF ACADEMIC DISHONESTY AMONG UNDERGRADUATES IN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS IN KOGI STATE

Academic dishonesty is a critical educational concern across all educational levels in the world. The trend is pervasive among higher education students and undermines human and national developments. This study examined academic dishonesty among students in tertiary institutions in Kogi State, Nigeria, based on their subjective test anxiety. One hundred and thirty-seven undergraduates participated in the study. The students were approached between July and September 2021, and they completed self-report measures of the Cognitive Test Anxiety Scale and the Academic Dishonesty Scale. The data were analyzed using a simple linear regression model. The finding revealed that test anxiety accounted for 56.2% of the variation in academic dishonesty. Our result supports literature indicating a link between test anxiety and academic dishonesty among higher education students. We recommend that a simulation exercise is vital in preparing students for assessments.

Students’ Cognitive Test Anxiety and Secondary School Examination Performance: Moderating Effect of Gender and School Sector

Despite a bulk of research in international context investigating the relationship of cognitive test anxiety with students’ academic performance, little work has yet been done in this area on samples of students in Pakistan. This correlational design study was, therefore, conducted to examine the relationship between secondary school students’ cognitive test anxiety and their examination performance in educational context of Pakistan and to ascertain how the direction and/or strength of this relationship may be moderated by students’ gender and their school sector. Data were collected on students’ cognitive test anxiety, total obtained marks in SSC examination and obtained marks in English along with students’ gender and school sector from 1712 mixed ability students enrolled in year 11 in 91 public and private institutions. Both the descriptive and inferential statistical techniques (i.e., Mean, SD and Independent samples t-test) along with Pearson’s R correlations and hierarchical multiple regression were performed to analyze the data. Results depicted that female sample students reported higher level of cognitive test anxiety in comparison to their male counterparts. Results also suggested a small but significant negative effect of cognitive test anxiety on students’ examination performance and that student cognitive test anxiety component accounted for 10% of variance in their examination performance. Results further revealed that the magnitude of relationship between students’ cognitive test anxiety and examination total point scores do not change much for the moderating variables and these variables accounted only for 3% of variance. The magnitude of moderating effect, however, found to be somewhat stronger in the school sector in comparison to students’ gender.

Validation of the State Version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory in a University Sample

Spielberger’s State-Trait Anxiety Model makes a theoretical distinction between the contribution of dispositional anxiety and the transitory experience of anxiety to performance difficulties during testing situations. According to the State-Trait framework, state anxiety is viewed as the primary performance barrier for test-anxious students, and as such, educators and educational researchers have expressed interest in validated, state anxiety measurement tools. Currently, the most widely used measure of state anxiety is the state version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. However, evidence regarding the psychometric properties of this scale is relatively scarce. Therefore, the current study was designed to determine the structural validity, reliability, and concurrent/divergent validity of the instrument. Participants ( N = 294) completed the state version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, Cognitive Test Anxiety Scale 2nd Edition, and an exam task. Using confirmatory factor analysis, we tested the viability of one-, two-, and bi-factor solutions for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory. Confirmatory factor analysis results indicated a two-factor solution consisting of State Anxiety and State Calmness dimensions provided superior fit to the observed data. Results of a reliability analysis indicated that the State Anxiety and State Calmness factors demonstrated excellent internal consistency when applied to university students. Our discussion concerns the utility of the State Anxiety factor as a tool for the identification of test-anxious students.

Re-examining the relation of Core self-evaluations and Academic performance: Investigating the mediating role of Cognitive test-anxiety

The present study attempted to investigate the mediating effect of Cognitive Test-anxiety (CTA) between the relation of Core Self-evaluation (CSE) and academic performance. Sample consisted of 599 class 12 students from different schools in Kolkata belonging to both English and Bengali medium schools and from both science and humanities streams. Subjects were selected according to the inclusion criteria to maintain homogeneity of sample. To carry out mediation analysis PROCESS macro for SPSS by Preacher & Hayes, 2004 was used. Data was analyzed using SPSS 22 version. Results showed CSE positively predicted academic performance which was significantly mediated by CTA. It can be said that CSE being a dispositional variable its relation with academic performance can be strengthened or weakened by underlying cognitive factors, one important among them being CTA which predisposes an individual to experience anxiety in evaluative situations thereby lowering performance.

Cognitive test anxiety in high-stakes oral examinations: Face-to-face or computer-based?

The present investigation explores Cognitive Test Anxiety (CTA) in a high-stake oral examination, taking into consideration how face-to-face and computer-based examination formats affect test-takers’ anxiety and consequently language performance. Two speaking tests – face-to-face and computer-based – were developed for a Spanish university’s ACLES B1 accreditation exam taken by 176 candidates. The Cognitive Test Anxiety Scale Revised (CTAS-2) and a structured interview were used to measure students’ anxiety as well as to observe students’ perceptions, individual behaviour, and how contextual characteristics and emotions have an effect on language test anxiety. Results indicated a moderate to high cognitive test anxiety on the part of participants and differences between the two contexts were found. Factors such as the absence of an examiner or not feeling observed or judged during the speaking test performance were found to be aspects that lowered test-takers’ anxiety levels.

Cognitive test anxiety scale: Propriedades psicométricas no contexto brasileiro

Antecendentes: A ansiedade cognitiva refere-se a preocupações excessivas, antes, durante e depois das avaliações, interferindo no desempenho e ocasionando o fracasso acadêmico, além de estar associada positivamente o com neuroticismo e a depressão. Objetivou: Objetivou-se reunir evidências de qualidade psicométrica da Cognitive Test Anxiety Scale(CTAS) no Brasil. Método: Foram realizados dois estudos: No estudo 1 participaram 210 universitários da cidade de Parnaíba, Piauí, Brasil (Medade=21,7; DP=3,73), a maioria cursando Psicologia (60%) e mulheres (58,6%).Responderam a CTAS e questões demográficas. RESULTADOS: A análise fatorial exploratória sugeriu uma solução unidimensional, que explicou 46,94% da variância total dos itens. A confiabilidade foi avaliada pelos indicadores alfa de Cronbach (α) e ômega de McDonald (ω) iguais a 0,92. No Estudo 2, participaram 274 universitários de diferentes regiões brasileiras (Miedad=21,7; DP=3,73), a maioria do estado do Piauí (60%), cursando Psicologia (60,4%). Uma análise fatorial confirmatória apontou indicadores adequados (CFI=0,96; TLI=0,95; RMSEA=0,06). A confiabilidade foi satisfatória: (α) e (ω) iguais a 0,94. Conclusão: Foram encontradas evidências psicométricas para o Brasil, podendo a CTAS serútil para interessados em investigar a temática e seus correlatos. Objetivou: Objetivou-se reunir evidências de qualidade psicométrica da Cognitive Test Anxiety Scale(CTAS) no Brasil. Método: Foram realizados dois estudos: No estudo 1 participaram 210 universitários da cidade de Parnaíba, Piauí, Brasil (Medade=21,7; DP=3,73), a maioria cursando Psicologia (60%) e mulheres (58,6%).Responderam a CTAS e questões demográficas. RESULTADOS: A análise fatorial exploratória sugeriu uma solução unidimensional, que explicou 46,94% da variância total dos itens. A confiabilidade foi avaliada pelos indicadores alfa de Cronbach (α) e ômega de McDonald (ω) iguais a 0,92. No Estudo 2, participaram 274 universitários de diferentes regiões brasileiras (Miedad=21,7; DP=3,73), a maioria do estado do Piauí (60%), cursando Psicologia (60,4%). Uma análise fatorial confirmatória apontou indicadores adequados (CFI=0,96; TLI=0,95; RMSEA=0,06). A confiabilidade foi satisfatória: (α) e (ω) iguais a 0,94. Conclusão: Foram encontradas evidências psicométricas para o Brasil, podendo a CTAS serútil para interessados em investigar a temática e seus correlatos.