Examines the relationship between self-esteem and affective variables (such as, text anxiety, mathematics anxiety, and academic autonomy) used to predict success among high-risk students. Indicates that significant positive correlations were found between self-esteem and academic autonomy, lifestyle choice, and interpersonal relationships.…

In 1991, a survey was conducted at California's Sierra College (SC) to determine the types of students enrolling in algebra classes and to explore their attitudes about mathematics. The student population surveyed consisted of all students enrolled in 27 algebra class sections on the SC campus. The survey focused on students' reasons for enrolling…

This study investigated the development of abstract mathematical thought and spatial relations of 13- and 14-year-old students who attended public schools in Australia, Japan, and the United States. Dependent variables included age, ability grouping, ethnicity, sex, mathematics attitudes, and mathematics classroom behaviors. Significant…

This study compares and contrasts the following variables on the types of attributions (ability, effort, environment, and task) students make for their performance in algebra: attributions by gender and gender identification; attributions by level of math anxiety and self esteem; attributions by experience in competitive activities; and…

Following a discussion of various methods of evaluating the effectiveness of developmental programs, this paper presents a research design for the evaluation of a developmental math program. First, the paper examines the objectives and benefits of conducting formative and summative program evaluations. The paper then identifies the single group…

Math avoidance has been hypothesized as related to career choice restrictions. Few attempts have been made, however, to assess the relative importance of the various components of math avoidance to career choice. Furthermore, it has been implied that persons fearful of math not only avoid specific careers but also reject careers that are otherwise…

The academic achievement of men and women was compared to determine why women are underrepresented in certain curricula, especially engineering. Math-related attitude and anxiety factors were examined, and a number of ACT test scores were studied. A math questionnaire is appended. (Author/MLW)

Explores aspects of math avoidance 'syndrome' among elementary and secondary students of American Indian and Alaskan Native backgrounds, emphasizing the role of linguistic factors and familiarity with traditional tribal strategies for mathematical problem solving. Available from Linguistic Association of the Southwest, Department of English,…

Explores forms of passive behavior in poor math students. Twenty grade six students participated in this study. Two forms of passive behavior are discussed, one concerning encoding new knowledge and the other involving risk-taking in unmastered tasks. Also observes the reluctance of poor students to risk making a guess on problems that were not…

Describes Suinn Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale, Elementary Form (MARS-E) with sample of 105 Hispanic students. Correlating MARS-E scores with mathematics scores on Stanford Achievement Test (SAT) shows similarities in mathematics anxiety between Hispanics and normative non-Hispanics but Hispanics scored lower on SAT. Recommends additional…

Examines teacher mathematics anxiety as it relates to changes in student mathematics anxiety and achievement, teaching practices, and teacher characteristics. The Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale was used for 31 teachers. Teacher mathematics anxiety correlated positively with whole-class instruction time and negatively with the number of students'…

Presents two case studies from a book by Lusiane Weyl-Kailey in which she addresses the learning problems of 14-year-old boys from either a psychoanalytic perspective or a mathematical perspective, depending upon her diagnosis of the boys' problems. (MDH)

A study explored middle school students' (N=54) perceptions of problem difficulty, persistence, and knowledge, and use of problem-solving strategies in solving mathematical word problems. Students with learning disabilities rated problems as significantly more difficult and had a significantly lower total word problem score than both average and…

A study examined literature on mathematics learning disabilities (LD) and identified specific behaviors of students with mathematics LD. Data are presented from observations of 391 special educators on 1,724 students with LD, 870 with math weaknesses. Difficulty with multi-step problems was the single most important behavior for predicting math…

In our match towards scientific and technological advancement, we need nothing short of good performance in mathematics at all levels of schooling. In an effort to achieve this, this study investigated the impact of motivation on students' school academic achievement in mathematics in secondary schools using motivation for academic preference…