Results of a study made to determine the effect of male-female class ratio on female student class participation are reported. In spring 1980, an all-female section of an introductory math course was offered in addition to the other five mixed-sex sections at a midwestern university. It was found that women selecting the all-female section had…

The effects of math anxiety and sex on computer anxiety, computer confidence, and computer liking were investigated with 161 junior high and high school language arts students; 119 community college mathematics students; and 76 college students residing in dormitories. The Computer Attitude Scale (Loyd and Gressard, 1984) was used to measure…

This study explored the relationship between students' high school mathematics courses and grades; the affective variables--mathematics anxiety, effectance motivation, and attitude toward success; and performance in the first quarter developmental studies algebra course. The study reports significant differences between males and females on…

The contributions of acceptance of misconceptions about mathematics, mathematical self-concept, and arithmetic skills to mathematics anxiety and to statistics course performance were studied in 92 adult students aged 18 to 57 with a median age of 27, (16 males and 76 females). Results showed that acceptance of misconceptions and mathematical…

This study examined the nature, causes, and reinforcement of mathematics anxiety as well as methods of alleviating at least some of its symptoms. The literature on the subject was reviewed and an annotated bibliography prepared with entries grouped under three headings: (1) What is Mathematics Anxiety? Definition, Characteristics, and Symptoms;…

While much progress has been made in treating math anxiety, little is yet known about its causes, correlates or effects. The present study examined factors related to the prevalence and intensity of math anxiety in college students and the extent to which math anxiety is predictive of math course grades. The 655 subjects were obtained from two…

Presented is a study which investigated the relationship of mathematics anxiety to mathematics attitudes and mathematics achievement for 62 high math-anxious female college freshmen. Subjects were given the Fennema-Sherman Mathematics Attitude Inventory, including a mathematics anxiety scale, and a mathematics achievement test. High math-anxious…

In the 1980's, understanding and using mathematics will become even more important in the careers and personal lives of men and women in America. The Mathematics Anxiety Program at the University of Minnesota is the subject of this study. The initial pool of subjects was 342 participants in six separate offerings of the program. The offerings were…

This study looks at the correlates of mathematics anxiety in female college freshmen through an examination of the following: (1) the correlation between mathematics anxiety and mathematics achievement; (2) the correlation between anxiety and attitudes; (3) the correlation between the number of mathematics courses taken in high school and anxiety;…

Compared the mathematics attitudes of 63 girls who took two or three years of high school mathematics. Results confirmed that fear of mathematics decreased in girls continuing in math, and attitudes towards math became more positive. Most planned to combine work, marriage, and children but demonstrated developing sex-role strain. (JAC)

Children in primary education often encounter mathematics having picked up a general fear of mathematics from the society around them. This results in lack of confidence, avoidance of non-standard thought processes, weakness in problem solving strategies, and other negative consequences. This study offers an alternative approach: presenting…

Attitudinal and attributional variables relating to the election of mathematics courses by females and males are identified. A small set of variables explaining the variance in female and male mathematical plans was found. These results may help in understanding why larger proportions of males than females elect mathematics. (Author/GK)

It is hypothesized that those drawn to elementary school teaching do not necessarily enjoy mathematics. A questionnaire was given to over 200 college students, half of them prospective elementary teachers, who were also required to write an essay on attitudes toward mathematics. The results are discussed, and mathematics specialists promoted. (MP)

Developed Mathematics Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC) and administered to 562 gifted, normal, and mildly mentally handicapped students in grades 4 through 8. Found MASC to be internally consistent measure of mathematics anxiety for grades four through eight. Found construct validity evidence based on MASC's relationship with mathematics grades,…

Twenty children in grades 4-7, half with learning disabilities (LD), received cognitive behavior modification training to reduce math anxiety. From pretest to posttest, children with LD produced increased amounts of positive self-talk. There was a moderate, positive correlation between increased positive self-talk and math performance. (Author/JDD)