Poor performance in mathematics among students, at a variety of grade levels, has been attributed, in part, to mathematics anxiety (Bulmahn & Young, 1982; Kelly & Tomhave, 1985; Hadfield & McNeil, 1994). Some investigators have related this phenomenon to gender effects (Cooper & Robinson, 1989) mathematics self-concept and test anxiety (Bandalos…

Perhaps the most dramatic failure in postsecondary education has been in the teaching of mathematical skills. The different functions of the right and left hemispheres of the brain require different approaches to education. Due to their emphasis on language and verbal processing, schools have failed to give adequate stimulation to the right side…

This study investigated the effects of two modes of instruction; the experiencing mathematics instructional method, and the direct instruction expository method, and two levels of mathematics anxiety, high and low, on mathematics achievement. The final sample consisted of 160 students enrolled in a remedial arithmetic course in a four-year college…

Presented is the product of a curriculum project originated in the Mequon-Theinsville Sex Equity Committee, and focusing on mathematics anxiety and avoidance. The project's two major purposes were to: (1) have the district's mathematics instructors become aware of the problem, its implications, consequences, and suggested intervention strategies;…

Subjects for this study were female participants in a mathematics anxiety treatment program at a midwestern university. A series of test instruments were administered. Statistical analysis indicates that for this female sample, the domain of mathematics anxiety is best described as primarily test anxiety and only secondarily as anxiety associated…

Presented is a general overview of mathematics anxiety, its definition, and techniques to measure it. Included are a brief discussion of gender-related issues and an analysis of research on effects of mathematics anxiety on elementary teachers. Contained are some intervention strategies and treatments, conclusions and implications for further…

Research on learner's beliefs are summarized in the areas of beliefs about mathematics as a discipline, beliefs about learning mathematics, beliefs about mathematics teaching, and beliefs about self within a social context in which mathematics teaching and learning are occurring. (PK)

Discusses how calculators and computers can assist in the teaching of the basic mathematical competencies. (YP)

Most mathematics anxiety has its roots in the teaching and teachers of mathematics. Because people generally are not math anxious before going to school, an examination of the previous statement proves to be well founded. This article reviews the literature and discusses different ways that teachers may help to prevent their students from becoming…

Discusses a methods course for preservice mathematics teachers that addresses the affective side of learning mathematics. Students are encouraged to reflect on their experiences in relation to themselves as learners, teachers, and mathematicians. (MDH)

Describes a study comparing the effectiveness of individualized and traditional sections in a basic mathematics class at a community college. Indicates that the individualized format was a positive experience for students and enhanced skill development for participating students, but only minimally decreased math anxiety and had no effect on…

Emerging perspectives on numeracy and their social, cultural, and political implications provide a context for new ways of thinking about adult numeracy instruction. Beyond daily living skills, numeracy is now being defined as knowledge that empowers citizens for life in their particular society. Thus, numeracy has economic, social, and political…

This book examines the low level of numeracy in Britain, reasons why numeracy is critical, and the forces affecting adults. Section 1 describes the educational environment in which adults learn mathematics. Chapters 1-2 explore the role and purposes of adult education and identify characteristics of and influences on learners and teachers. Section…

This article discusses the symptoms and causes of math anxiety, and preventative measures that teachers can use to alleviate the stress some students experience in mathematics problem solving. Mathematics anxiety is defined as "feelings of tension and anxiety that interfere with the manipulation of numbers and the solving of mathematical problems…

The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that mathematics-related self-efficacy mediates the effects of gender and mathematical preparation and achievement on mathematics-relatedness of college major. The responses of 117 undergraduates to a series of inventories and questionnaires yielded seven variables descriptive of the…