The Relationship between Mathematics Anxiety, Attitudes and Performance of "0"-Level Mathematics Students in the Midlands Province (Zimbabwe).
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Date
1998-11-20
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Publisher
University of Fort Hare
Abstract
The purpose of this study— was to investigate the effects of mathematics anxiety and attitudes on "O"-Ievel students’ mathematics achievement, and to tap the "O" Ievel mathematics teachers‘ and students’ views and suggestions about what steps to take to improve performance in mathematics. The sample consisted of 17 teachers and 340 students in the Midlands province of Zimbabwe. The students wrote a mathematics achievement test and filled in an anxiety- and attitude-measuring questionnaire whilst the teachers filled in an attitude toward-mathematics questionnaire. Open-ended questions were also included to supplement the quantitative data. Correlational and regression analyses were done using the computer package SPSS. lt was found that Student Attitude (StdAtt) and Student Anxiety (StdAnx) had statistically significant correlations with Student Achievement (StdAch)‚ respectively positive and negative (r>O.5 numerically). Teacher Attitude (TrAtt) had a small but significant positive correlation with Student Achievement (StdAch)‚ These results were consistent with previous research findings cited in the Literature Review but they did not fully match the Yerkes-Dodson Iaw as had been hypothesized. Suggestions offered by the respondents in the open-ended A sections of the questionnaires, as well as their implications on curriculum development in mathematics are presented in this study.
Description
Masters
Keywords
mathematics, students, Zimbabwe, teachers, O-level
Citation
Chirume, Silvanos.(1998). The Relationship between Mathematics Anxiety, Attitudes and Performance of "0"-Level Mathematics Students in the Midlands Province (Zimbabwe). Alice. University of Fort Hare.