The effects of spatial visualization training and mathematics anxiety reduction on the performance of education students in solving word problems in algebra

• Main Author: Castro, Benigno F.
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 1991
• Subjects: Spatial ability; Word problems (Mathematics); Problem solving > Study and teaching; Math anxiety; Algebra; Mathematics
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_doctoral/648
• Institution: De La Salle University

The study investigates the effects of spatial visualization training and mathematics anxiety reduction on the spatial visualization ability, state of mathematics anxiety and algebraic word problem solving performance of Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEE) and Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSE) students taking first year college algebra. A pair of BSE and BEE served as control group, while a pair of BEE and BSE classes was subjected to a spatial visualization training, and a similar pair to both spatial visualization training and a mathematics anxiety reduction scheme. The treatment was conducted for eleven weeks, 3 periods per week. The Spatial Visualization Test Battery and the Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale were used to measure the pre-treatment and post treatment spatial ability and mathematics anxiety, respectively. The Otis-Lennon School Ability Test (Adult Form) was administered as a pretest to obtain a covariate for performances in analytical, spatial, and overall algebraic word problem solving skills as measured with the Algebraic Word Problem Solving Test. ANCOVA and Scheffe tests were used to analyze the data. The study revealed that spatial visualization training significantly enhances spatial ability, spatial word problem solving performance and significantly reduces mathematics anxiety. It also enhances analytic word problem solving performances but not significantly. The mathematics anxiety reduction significantly reduces mathematics anxiety and enhances spatial ability, analytic word-problem solving performance, spatial word problem solving performance. Furthermore, spatial visualization instruction had better impact on BSE students than on BEE students, while the mathematics anxiety reduction had comparable effects on both groups of students.