Presented is a study which investigated the relationship of mathematics anxiety to mathematics attitudes and mathematics achievement for 62 high math-anxious female college freshmen. Subjects were given the Fennema-Sherman Mathematics Attitude Inventory, including a mathematics anxiety scale, and a mathematics achievement test. High math-anxious…

In the 1980's, understanding and using mathematics will become even more important in the careers and personal lives of men and women in America. The Mathematics Anxiety Program at the University of Minnesota is the subject of this study. The initial pool of subjects was 342 participants in six separate offerings of the program. The offerings were…

This study looks at the correlates of mathematics anxiety in female college freshmen through an examination of the following: (1) the correlation between mathematics anxiety and mathematics achievement; (2) the correlation between anxiety and attitudes; (3) the correlation between the number of mathematics courses taken in high school and anxiety;…

Some of the ways of dealing with math anxiety through a learning center are discussed. These are: (1) offering a non-credit basic mathematics review class; (2) offering one-hour focus groups covering study techniques for entry level math and science courses; (3) sponsoring an informal group dealing with math anxiety; (4) making math anxiety…

The mathematics department at the Dalton School in New York City, was well aware of the math anxiety among its students and so sponsored a Mind Over Math program for the students in three Algebra I classes. This series of five one-hour workshops, which met during one of the three regular class sessions, was designed to reduce and prevent negative…

Discusses research studies which examine why many capable students continue to avoid mathematics in school. The ideal mathematics student, sex differences, teacher behavior, student attitudes, and minority participation are among the areas considered. (JN)

Compared the mathematics attitudes of 63 girls who took two or three years of high school mathematics. Results confirmed that fear of mathematics decreased in girls continuing in math, and attitudes towards math became more positive. Most planned to combine work, marriage, and children but demonstrated developing sex-role strain. (JAC)

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…

The purpose of this study was to examine the attitudes of males and females at Clovis Community College towards math anxiety and to look for possible factors that could be used to assist in the assignment of students to various math classes. The subjects in the study were fifty male students and fifty female students. Subjects responded to a math…

Children in primary education often encounter mathematics having picked up a general fear of mathematics from the society around them. This results in lack of confidence, avoidance of non-standard thought processes, weakness in problem solving strategies, and other negative consequences. This study offers an alternative approach: presenting…

Attitudinal and attributional variables relating to the election of mathematics courses by females and males are identified. A small set of variables explaining the variance in female and male mathematical plans was found. These results may help in understanding why larger proportions of males than females elect mathematics. (Author/GK)

It is hypothesized that those drawn to elementary school teaching do not necessarily enjoy mathematics. A questionnaire was given to over 200 college students, half of them prospective elementary teachers, who were also required to write an essay on attitudes toward mathematics. The results are discussed, and mathematics specialists promoted. (MP)

Experience with materials developed by the Mathematics Teacher Education Project has shown that these resources of teaching methods and suggestions can be used to assist student teachers in their first field experience and in the final term as a means to coalesce and focus on specific teaching strategies. (FG)

Proposals for modifying attitudes and anxieties about mathematics by inner city students and increasing the chances these pupils have to succeed in college mathematics are presented. Orientation sessions are proposed for students entering colleges with mathematics deficiencies and anxieties. (MP)

Describes a successful mother/daughter math club started by a third grade teacher which is designed to help participants increase positive feelings about mathematics; further develop problem-solving skills, especially involving construction and spatial visualization tasks; and become familiar with women's contributions to the world of mathematics.…