This paper discusses the problems associated with mathematics anxiety, and provides detailed information on the history and structure of the Mathematics Anxiety Program at the University of Minnesota. The seven parts concern: (1) the Continuing Education for Women Program, (2) the development of the Math Anxiety Program, (3) the symptoms of…

This study measures advertising students' attitudes toward statistics. Subjects, 275 undergraduate advertising students from two southwestern United States universities, completed a questionnaire used to gauge students' attitudes toward statistics by measuring 6 underlying factors: (1) students' interest and future applicability; (2) relationship…

A. Wigfield and J. Meece (1988) developed the Mathematics Anxiety Questionnaire (MAQ) to measure the cognitive and affective aspects of mathematics anxiety. In particular, using school-aged students, Wigfield and Meece have provided evidence that the MAQ measures two factors identified as Worry and Negative Affective Reactions. This study used…

The effects of mathematics anxiety and gender on attitudes toward mathematics were examined using the Attitudes Toward Mathematics Instrument (ATMI). A sample of 134 students currently enrolled in mathematics classes in a state university was asked to complete the ATMI. Data were analyzed using a multivariate factorial model with four factors of…

The purpose of this study was to contribute to greater understanding of the mathematics anxiety construct by: (a) identifying the independent dimensions underlying the item responses on the Math Anxiety Rating Scale (MARS); (b) developing factor scales to measure these dimensions; and (c) determining if specific personal and academic background…

Although the number of computers in the school system is increasing, many schools are not using computers to their capacity. One reason for this may be computer anxiety on the part of the teacher. A review of the computer anxiety literature reveals little information on the subject, and findings from previous studies suggest that basic controlled…

This study was designed to investigate mathematics performance as a function of anxiety, with examination for a relationship between mathematics and test anxiety and any sex differences on mathematics anxiety. The effects of evaluative stress on high and low mathematically anxious subjects was examined, and preliminary effort was made to…

The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether teaching strategies designed to help pupils build positive and realistic self concepts would have effects upon attitudes, anxiety, and achievement in mathematics. The population consisted of 60 students who had registered for a Survey of Mathematics course at Winward Community College…

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 investigation traced changes in anxiety for teaching mathematics (ATM) among pre-service elementary school teachers (n=36) enrolled in a mathematics methods course by analyzing their weekly journal entries. Journal entries were coded for high level of ATM (ATM-high) or absence of ATM (ATM-absent) during the first class session, as well as…

A chronology of the development of a mathematics anxiety scale is given. Included are a model describing six facets of mathematics anxiety and the eighteen items used on the anxiety scale. Stability and internal consistency measures are reported, and the scale is correlated with measures of mathematical confidence and general anxiety towards…

A project was designed to evaluate TEAM, a math anxiety reduction program for undergraduate students preparing to be elementary school teachers. The program consisted of two main components: (1) instruction intended to improve problem solving skills using the areas of patterns, probability, measurement, approximation, and estimation; and (2)…

This symposium includes five presentations of studies of mathematics attitudes at three educational levels: junior high, postsecondary, and graduate school. The studies have implications in the fields of mathematics education, educational research, academic advisement, and career counseling. The studies identify the extent of the problem of…

Although women are entering male-dominated occupations at a greater rate, they still tend to avoid those occupations, as well as college majors that require math. Lack of an adequate math background, and thus lower math achievement, seems to effectively bar women from high level, technological, and male-dominated occupations. This study examined…

A multifactorial scale of attitudes toward statistics was developed, and factors related to attitudes toward statistics (objective and subjective mathematics background, anxiety, spatial ability, expectations, motivation, attitudes toward computers, teacher and course evaluation, sex and sex-role stereotypes, and major) were investigated for…