Investigating mathematics anxiety and performance of grade 8 students in the province of Isabela

• Main Author: Aguinaldo, Clemente M., Jr.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2016
• Subjects: Math anxiety; Mathematics—Study and teaching—Philippines—Isabela—Psychological aspects; Educational Psychology; Science and Mathematics Education
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/9365
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study sought to investigate the causes of mathematics anxiety experienced by Grade 8 students in relation to their academic performance. The respondents were randomly selected from the different public and private junior high schools in the province of Isabela. To gather the needed data, personal data and grading sheets, a validated Mathematics Anxiety Scale (MAS) and observation guides were utilized. Results revealed that students are low to moderately anxious about mathematics especially on the areas of taking a test and listening to lectures in a mathematics class. Among the varied groups, boys, older ones, and public school students are more significantly anxious than their counterparts. Respondents with higher level of parents’ educational background registered lower anxieties. Moreover, the fairly satisfactory performance of the students has no significant connection to their mathematics anxiety. It is recommended that the MAS be used to diagnose students with high levels of anxiety to give teachers and parents a better understanding of their behavior and in what aspects do they need help.