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.…

This report researches the use of a standard deck of playing cards in entry-level college mathematics classrooms. The study looks at published research on the use of cards, and reviews pedagogic concerns directly related to the implementation of playing cards in the classroom--including the appropriateness of manipulatives, the link to cooperative…

College students having a poor high school mathematics background or returning to school after many years may want concrete tips and procedures to help them improve their grades in mathematics. This book provides those tips and procedures proven effective in improving a student's ability to learn mathematics and take tests. Pre-test study skills…

The development of a Project for Mathematics Anxiety Reduction Training (Project MART) is described. This Project was designed as an in-service, staff development program for the City University of New York's instructors. The Project is based on the concept that modifying instructor behavior in the teaching of mathematics will lead to lower…

The basic question considered in this research practicum was did female students' participation in a special six-week mathematics clinic significantly reduce anxiety towards mathematics. Seventeen female participants completed both a pre and post Aiken-Dreger Math Attitude Scale. A t-test was used to compare the mean pretest and mean posttest…

The Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale (MARS) was administered to college psychology and mathematics students. Scores were higher for psychology students than for mathematics students; were useful predictors of both worry and emotionality; and were inversely related to performance for psychology students. Worry and performance were inversely…

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)

Avoidance of higher mathematics courses by women students is discussed. Programs to help students overcome their mathematics anxiety are described. (DT)

The purpose of this study was to address issues related to the kind and degree of relationship between mathematical achievement and attitude toward mathematics. Data were gathered on a number of attitudes from 145 college students in a basic mathematics course. Attitudinal data were gathered by means of a six-page questionnaire, essay questions,…

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…

The reasons that cause women to take significantly fewer mathematics courses than men are investigated. The subjects consisted of 377 female college freshmen enrolled at a small, private women's liberal arts college in the Midwest. All subjects were tested as part of the college's regular placement testing program prior to the Fall semester of the…

Several surveys of students enrolled in elementary school mathematics methods courses provided the background for a pilot study of attitudes on teaching elementary mathematics. In a discussion of the literature on the subject, the importance of teachers' attitudes and their influence on children's attitudes is stressed. Two exploratory studies of…

College students may be influenced by a variety of factors when choosing a major. Mathematics anxiety has received substantial attention, but has not been considered as a factor in choice of college major. The relationship between mathematics anxiety and the academic majors chosen by new freshmen prior to enrollment was investigated for a group of…

This module was developed to help those who train elementary teachers to increase the awareness of preservice elementary school teachers of the effects of sex role stereotypes as they pertain to womens' achievement in mathematics. The topics covered include: (1) career implications of mathematics; (2) counteracting the stereotypes; (3) encouraging…