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…

This study addresses three questions: (1) whether sex is related to ability and interest in computers; (2) whether a relationship exists between the presence of a computer in the home and a child's ability and interest in computing; and (3) the combination of factors that account for students' perceptions of success in developing programming…

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…

The high levels of anxiety, apprehension, and apathy of students in college algebra courses caused the instructor to create and test a variety of math teaching techniques designed to boost student confidence and enthusiasm in the subject. Overall, this proposal covers several different techniques, which have been evaluated by both students and the…

The purpose of this study was to determine if teaching techniques and teacher attitudes tend to reduce math anxiety in secondary-level students. The research group consisted of 48 secondary students enrolled in Algebra I at a rural school in West Virginia, with the experimental period lasting 12 weeks. The control group was instructed in the…

Presents and discusses three instruments to evaluate: (1) student self-assessment; (2) assessment of cooperative learning tasks; and (3) student assessment of their teacher's effectiveness. Examples of the instruments are provided. (MDH)

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…

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)

In an attempt to explore the prevalence, intensity and effects of mathematics anxiety at Salisbury State College (Maryland) approximately 350 student volunteers from two diverse introductory mathematics courses participated in this survey. The Fennema-Sherman Mathematics Anxiety and Confidence Scales and a portion of the Test Anxiety Profile were…

This study was designed to develop and validate an instrument to measure general attitudes toward research design and statistics for use with students in an undergraduate nursing research course. Personal feelings of anxiety or lack of competence in dealing with course material were also assessed. Evidence of construct validity was provided by the…

A study examined the relationship between math anxiety and selected demographic characteristics. Surveys were administered to 1,152 students in vocational-technical and comprehensive schools in 13 New Jersey school districts. The survey instrument included an attitude scale and a brief math test designed to evoke feelings of math anxiety in…

Nursing educators and administrators are concerned about medication errors made by students which jeopardize patient safety. The inability to conceptualize and calculate medication dosages, often related to math anxiety, is implicated in such errors. A computer-assisted instruction (CAI) program is seen as a viable method of allowing students to…

The "Standards" of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) were established as a broad framework to guide reform in school mathematics, not as a specific curriculum. Whether the implementation of the NCTM standards in classrooms has a relationship to student anxiety about mathematics was studied. Student levels of…

The Coping Strategies Inventory for Statistics (CSIS) is designed to identify beginning statistics students with non-facilitative test-taking and study-coping skills. The self-administered CSIS consists of directions followed by two scenarios. The student reads each scenario, decides how he or she would react to the situation, and rates each of…

Questionnaire responses of 155 student teachers were analyzed to develop meaningful attitude scales and to refine the instrument. Attitude scales identified in the analysis and built into the final form of the questionnaire were (1) anxiety; (2) confidence and enjoyment, (3) desire for recognition; and (4) pressure to conform. Includes a copy of…