Preview

Research

Powerful Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1497 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Research
“MATH ANXIETY”

CHAPTER 1

RESEARCH PROBLEM

Introduction

Mathematics is a core subject in completing the basic education in Malaysia. As stated in the Malaysian Philosophy of Education, the study of mathematics was incorporated in the education system to produce a competent individual who is able to apply the knowledge of mathematics effectively in their daily life, be responsible in solving problems and to efficiently make decisions. Tobias (1995) denoted mathematics anxiety as, "a feeling of tension and anxiety that appears when someone is engaged in the manipulation of figures to solve mathematical problems in both academic and daily-life situations". This chapter will explain the background of research, statement of the research problem, purpose of research, importance of research, limitations of research, definition of terms, and summary.

Background of Research

Research shows that psychological factors, such as math anxiety has an significant impact on the students' mathematics performance. It is of great importance to overcome such weaknesses among students in order to be able to compete globally, in such a sophisticated world which reckon totally on science, technology and mathematics. Moreover, it is going to majorly affect the efforts in Malaysia a fully developed nation by the year 2020. Students who receive low grades in mathematics are deemed to develop mathematics anxiety. Accordingly, such students are bound to avoid the study of mathematics or any other field of study which is directly or indirectly related to the application of mathematics. Mathematics is the gateway to those major fields, such as physician, engineering, computing, accounting and any other scientific fields. The insufficiency of employees in the related field is a matter of national concern.

Statement of Research Problem

The analysis considers the variables that give rise to the condition of math anxiety. This research on the causation of math anxiety is

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    If you are a parent, have you ever tried to help your child with math homework and not been able to because you don’t understand it yourself? If you are the student, do you ever look at your parents and think, “if they can’t do this then how am I supposed to”? These are very normal questions that many parents and students face. The reaction to these particular questions is either to blame the teacher or to push on the idea that the Common Core Mathematics system is much too difficult and needs to be removed. However, math anxiety is never acknowledged alongside Common Core Mathematics, and it needs to be. The resistance of Common Core Mathematics by students and parents is caused by…

    • 2443 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Math Anxiety

    • 860 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Cited: Marily Curtain-Phillips, M. Ed. "The Causes and Prevention of MAth Anxiety." n.d. Mathgoodies.com. .…

    • 860 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Math Anxiety

    • 672 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Many learners have already experienced mathematics anxiety in school consequently. Reported consequences of being anxious toward mathematics include the avoidance of mathematics and the decline in mathematics achievement. This kind of ‘anxiety’ was first detected in the late 1950s. (Dreger and Aiken 1957); noticed undergraduate college students reacting emotionally to arithmetic and mathematics. Although the reaction appeared to be similar to test anxiety in general, they found that mathematics anxiety is a potential factor. They have labeled it ‘number anxiety’, which is often assumed to be a high level of anxiety that can lessen performance. A moderate amount of anxiety may actually facilitate performance. Beyond a certain degree, however, anxiety hinders performance particularly in the case of higher mental activities and conceptual process. Psychological literature provides a number of theories of mathematics anxiety. (Suinn 1988); has defined mathematics anxiety in terms of its (crippling) effect on mathematical performance. It’s been observed that the feeling of tension and anxiety interfere with manipulation and the solving of mathematical problems in a wide variety of ordinary life and academic situations. It also involves feelings of tension and anxiety…

    • 672 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Research

    • 2345 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Students fall below their expected level of mathematics achievement for a variety of reasons. When asked why they were not as successful in learning mathematics, many people reply that they “never understood math,” or “never liked it because it was too abstract and did not relate to them.” These reasons and others can be categorized, in general, as environmental or personal, individualized factors.…

    • 2345 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Mathematics is the foundation of science and technology and the functional role of mathematics to science and technology is multifaceted and multifarious that no area of science, technology and business enterprise escapes its application (Okereke, 2006). Ukeje (1986) described mathematics as the mirror of civilization in all the centuries of painstaking calculation, and the most basic discipline for any person who would be truly educated in any science and in many other endeavours. Despite the importance placed on mathematics, researchers (Odili, 1986; Salau, 1995; Amazigo, 2000; Agwagah, 2001; Betiku, 2001; bioma, 2005; Maduabum and Odili, 2006; Okereke, 2006) had observed that students lack interest in the subject and perform poorly in it. Ukeje (1986) observed that mathematics is one of the most poorly taught, widely hated and abysmally under-stood subject in secondary school, students particularly girls run away from the subject. The West African Examination Council (WAEC) Chief Examiners [2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006] consistently reported candidates’ lack of skill in answering almost all the questions asked in general mathematics. WAEC Chief Examiners [2003, 2005] further observed that candidates were weak in Geometry of circles and 3- dimensional problems. According to their reports, most candidates avoided questions on 3-dimensional problem, when they attempt geometry questions; only few of the candidates showed a clear understanding of the problem in their working. WAEC [2004] also reported candidates’ weakness in Algebraic expression and word problems among others. Obioma (1985), Obodo (1993) and Okereke (2006) reported gender as a significant factor in mathematics achievement…

    • 1133 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Bahasa Malaysia, the national language has been the medium of instruction for about 20 years; however in January 2003 Malaysia re-adopted the English language as a medium of instruction for science and mathematics in a move to keep abreast with scientific and technological development that is mostly recorded in the English language. At the same time, this move is envisaged to provide opportunities for students to use the English language and therefore increase their proficiency in the language. This change in policy is congruent to significant developments and understandings in second language acquisition that emphasize the role of meaningful, understandable input. As a former school student, I totally disagree with this policy because with the changes of a medium of instruction to English, some students do have problems in learning mathematics. The problems arise from this policy includes challenges to the teachers to promote better efficiency of teaching, difficulties experienced by student due complication of these two subjects and also problem faced by the student due to sudden change of learning medium.…

    • 920 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Math Anxiety

    • 858 Words
    • 4 Pages

    There are many different descriptions of what mathematics anxiety truly is, and each victim may have his or her own interpretation of how math anxiety makes them feel. Tobias and Weissbrod (1980) describe mathematics anxiety as, “the pains, helplessness, paralysis, and mental disorganization that arises among some people when they are required to solve a mathematical problem”. Tobias (1978), who wrote Overcoming Math Anxiety, is referred to as a pioneer in the study of mathematics anxiety. Richardson and Suinn (1972), made the first instrument the measures and calculates mathematic anxiety – Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale (MARS). He described math anxiety as the “feelings of tension and anxiety that interfere with the manipulations of numbers and the solving of ordinary life and academic situations”. These two definitions depict math anxiety as being a more psychological and physiological; others have explained mathematics anxiety to be specifically based off of emotions. Spicer (2994) said that mathematics anxiety is “an emotion that blocks a person’s reasoning…

    • 858 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Hypothesis is a preliminary assumption or a tentative explanation that accounts for a set of facts, taken to be true for the purpose of investigation and testing; a theory. In this research paper, we are trying to figure out what are the probable causes of Math anxiety as well as the possible solutions regarding this matter. We came up with the following:…

    • 364 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    mathphobia

    • 840 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Research confirms that pressure of timed tests and risk of public embarrassment have long been recognized as sources of unproductive tension among many students. Three practices that are a regular part of the traditional mathematics classroom and cause great anxiety in many students are imposed authority, public exposure and time deadlines. Although these are a regular part of the traditional mathematics classroom cause great deal of anxiety. Therefore, teaching methods must be re-examined. Consequently, there should be more emphasis on teaching methods which include less lecture, more student directed classes and more discussion.…

    • 840 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    In many Malaysian schools, the teaching and learning of mathematics has been reported to be too teacher centred and that the students are not given enough opportunities to develop their own thinking (Malaysian Ministry of Education,…

    • 2214 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Mathematics pervades every aspect of our lives. We use mathematics at home, at work, in the market, on the bus and every aspect of our daily life. Apart from this mundane level, mathematics is also the driving force behind the scientific and technological revolution mankind has ever witnessed. It is on record that virtually every discipline derives its credibility and reliability from mathematics. Given enormous importance of mathematics, it is expedient that every society should devise strategies of promoting mathematical literacy.…

    • 10936 Words
    • 63 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    spm essay

    • 2280 Words
    • 11 Pages

    enhance acquisition of mathematical knowledge and skills through problem-solving in ways that increases interest and confidence…

    • 2280 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    This is especially true when taking a math test, because there is the added pressure of knowing that the test itself is gauging whether or not they have been successful at learning. That pressure can cause a lot of anxiety, and it's not uncommon for the child taking the test to feel these effects, including:…

    • 5781 Words
    • 24 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Roemar Beltran

    • 1894 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Mathematics is a subject recognized as the mother of all learning with other subjects deriving their concepts from it , in both the arts and sciences. It is also an international language and is essential in almost every field ; handling money, measurements in fashion, angles in sports such as bowling and billiards, technology and economics. Consequently, a good performance in the subject is important. However, there are lots of factors that became hindrances in the performance in Mathematics . Measuring the academic performance of students is challenging since student performance is product of socio-economic, psychological and environmental factors . The extent of student’s learning in mathematics may be determined by the grades of a student earns for a period of learning has been done. It is believed that a grade is main indicator of such learning.…

    • 1894 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    References: Aiken, L.A. (Jr.) (1970). Attitudes towards Mathematics. Review of Educational Research, 40, 551-591. Aiken, L.A. (Jr.) (1976). Update on attitudes and other affective variables in learning Mathematics. Review of Educational Research, 61, 880-815. Aire, J.E. and Tella, Yinka (2003). The Impact of Motivation on Student’s School Academic Performance in Nigeria. Journal of Personality Study and Group Behaviour, 23(1), 107-114. Akinsola, M.K. (1994). Comparative effects of mastery learning and enhanced mastery learning strategies on students’ achievement and self-concept in mathematics. Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis University of Ibadan, Ibadan. Akinsola, M.K. and Jijani, R.O. (1999). The Relationship between Mathematics Self-concept and Achievement in Mathematics. Nigerian Journal of Applied Psychology 5(1, 2) 260 – 267. Akpan, A.A. (1987). Correlates of mathematical problem solving ability among secondary school students. Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis, University of Ibadan, Ibadan. Ale, S.O. (1989). School mathematics in the 1990’s some major problems for developing countries. International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 20(5). Allele – Williams, G. (1988). Keynote address delivered at the silver Jubilee meeting of mathematics Association of Nigeria (MAN). Abacus, 18(1). Aremu, Ayotola, (1998). Motivating Learners for more effective achievement in mathematics. Nigerian Journal of Applied Psychology, 4(1), 27-34. Bakare, C.G.M. (1977). Motivation for Occupational Preference Scale. Psycho-Educational Research Publications. Bank, C. and Finlapson, W. (1980). Successful Motivation of Students in Academic Activities in McClelland, D.C. Appleton-Century-Crafts. Baya’a N.F. (1990). Mathematics anxiety, mathematics achievement, gender and socio-economic status among Arab secondary students in Israel. International. Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology, 21(2), 319-324. Biehler, R. F. and Snowmnan, J. (1986). Psychology Applied to Teaching (5th Ed.) Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company. Broussard, S. C. & Garrison, M.E. (2004).The relationship between classroom motivation and academic achievement in elementary school-aged children. Family Consumer Science Research Journal, 33(2), 106-120. Callaham, W.L. (1971). Adolescent Attitude towards Mathematics. Mathematics Teachers, 64, 751-753. Cheung, C. (1998). Conceptions of success. Their correlates with pro-social orientation and behaviour in Chinese adolescents. Journal of Adolescence, 21 (1) 31-42. Clallahan, J.E., Clark, M.A. (1970). Teaching in the elementary school. Planning for competence. New York: Macmillan. Clark, F. S. (1976). The Relationship between Self-concept, Reading Ability and Mathematics Ability. Dissertation Abstract International 49, 17-58. Combg, A. W. (1959). Individual Behaviour. New York: Harper and Row.…

    • 5279 Words
    • 22 Pages
    Powerful Essays

Related Topics