Aims to delimit the possible individual differences in feelings of difficulty experienced in relation to mathematics. Shows that feelings of difficulty form their own system, mainly influenced by performance and cognitive ability; also, gender interacts with personal and task characteristics. Discusses educational implications of these results.…

Analyzed math-anxiety levels among elementary preservice teachers before and after a mathematics methods course, noting factors that promoted math anxiety. Interviews and surveys indicated significant reductions in math anxiety at the end of the course. Anxiety stemmed from rigid and structured classroom instructional practices. The main factors…

A study was conducted at an urban community college in California to investigate the relationship among students' incoming mathematics skills, as measured by an achievement test administered when they entered the college; their math test anxiety, as measured by the Math Test Anxiety Index administered at midterm in an introductory mathematics…

Evidence suggests that victims of mathematics anxiety suffer from a poor self-concept regarding their mathematical ability. A 27-item attitude scale was developed reflecting attitude toward one's ability to learn mathematics. This scale was administered to 92 students taking a required statistics course, along with the Mathematics Anxiety Rating…

The present demand for quantitative proficiency makes low mathematics achievement not only a formidable obstacle in occupational aspirations but also in the academic arena. To modify the current understanding of the problem of mathematics anxiety and to develop an effective treatment program, college students (12 subjects per group; 8 females, 4…

This paper, presented at the eighty-fifth Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association, examines the potential contribution of systematic evaluation of mathematics anxiety programs, outlines some important considerations in evaluating these programs, and presents illustrative data concerning the effectiveness of various components…

Presents a literature review and research study that assessed science anxiety among elementary students. Concludes that (1) no inherent, biological reasons explain why females should be less adept at science than males; (2) nonthreatening science education is needed for students before grade four; and (3) teachers must be taught about their own…

Examined the relationship of math participation and success to self-esteem and career goals. No gender differences were found in math anxiety or perceptions of the usefulness of mathematics, but women selected math-related careers less frequently. Math participation and self-assessments of math ability related positively to self-estimates of…

This paper is based on the on-going research work and teaching carried out in the Mathematics Foundations Course (MFC) at Goldsmiths College, University of London. It is argued that teaching adult students mathematical investigation has given insight into the way they learn mathematics better and removes the barriers of mathematics phobia. It…

The purposes were to delineate and describe sex differences in mathematics achievement and participation and to investigate the usefulness of the fear of success construct in explaining the differences. Findings highlight the effects of environmental pressures on sex-related differences in mathematics performance and participation. (MP)

A Mathematics without Fear program developed at San Francisco State University is reviewed. It seeks to move pupils who fear mathematics from reliance on rules to concept orientation. (MP)

Presents two case studies of learners attempting to understand the concept of normal distribution, specifically why physical phenomena such as height fall into normal distributions. Draws conclusions about a Connected Mathematics learning environment that enables confrontation with epistemological anxiety and the features of modeling languages…

Asynchronous computer-mediated discussions supplemented instruction in mathematics for 10 inservice elementary teachers. Analysis of online discourse revealed three issues: exploration of math phobia; equity in math teaching, including special needs and gender issues; and use of instructional technology. Participants were able to reflect on…

Discusses the organization and retrieval of information. Describes the tip-of-the-tongue state during mathematics problem solving. Provides five rules for a deep level of processing of new concepts. (YP)

This study investigated the relationship between mathematical performance and mathematics self-efficacy, attitudes toward mathematics, and the choice of mathematics-related majors by college women and men. Performance and self-efficacy correlate positively with attitudes, masculine sex-role orientation, and a mathematics-related major. (Author/DC)