Studying preservice teacher math anxiety and mathematics performance in geometry, word, and non-word problem solving

Healthy Communities Research Institute, School of Lifespan Development and Educational Sciences
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Author(s)
Abstract
Research shows that mathematics anxiety and mathematics achievement present a challenge for many educators, particularly elementary school teachers who usually have lower mathematics content knowledge and higher math anxiety levels than average college students. This study investigated education majors' cognitive abilities and mathematics perceptions that affect their mathematics performance in geometry, word problem solving, and non-word problem-solving. We examined relationships between mathematics problem-solving and math anxiety in each of the three mathematical domains as a function of working memory (WM), spatial ability, and attitudes toward learning mathematics. Math anxiety, WM, and spatial ability explained 62% of the variance in student overall mathematics performance with math anxiety being the highest (negative) predictor. Although relationships between math anxiety and mathematics performance varied by mathematical domain, the negative effects of math anxiety were equally detrimental in each of the three mathematical domains, even after controlling for the effects of WM performance and spatial ability. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Format
Article
Identifier(s)
10.1016/j.lindif.2017.01.005
Publication Date
2017-02
Publication Title
Learning and Individual Differences
Publisher
Elsevier
Volume
54
First Page
20
Last Page
29
Keywords
Subject
Rights
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
Community
Healthy Communities Research Institute
School of Lifespan Development and Educational Sciences
Permalink https://oaks.kent.edu/hcri/studying-preservice-teacher-math-anxiety-and-mathematics-performance-geometry-word-and-non
Novak, E., & Tassell, J. (2017). Studying preservice teacher math anxiety and mathematics performance in geometry, word, and non-word problem solving (1–). Learning and Individual Differences. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2017.01.005
Novak, Elena, and Janet Tassell. 2017. “Studying Preservice Teacher Math Anxiety and Mathematics Performance in Geometry, Word, and Non-Word Problem Solving”. Learning and Individual Differences. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2017.01.005.
Novak, Elena, and Janet Tassell. Studying Preservice Teacher Math Anxiety and Mathematics Performance in Geometry, Word, and Non-Word Problem Solving. Learning and Individual Differences, Feb. 2017, https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2017.01.005.