A General Math Anxiety Measure

Working memory, math performance, and math anxiety.

The cognitive literature now shows how critically math performance depends on working memory, for any form of arithmetic and math that involves processes beyond simple memory retrieval. The psychometric literature is also very clear on the global consequences of mathematics anxiety. People who are highly math anxious avoid math: They avoid elective coursework in math, both in high school and co...

Running head: ATTENTION IN MATH ANXIETY Avoiding Math on a Rapid Timescale: Emotional Responsivity and Anxious Attention in Math Anxiety

Math anxiety (MA) is characterized by negative feelings towards mathematics, resulting in avoidance of math classes and of careers that rely on mathematical skills. Focused on a long timescale, this research may miss important cognitive and affective processes that operate moment-to-moment, changing rapid reactions even when a student simply sees a math problem. Here, using fMRI with an attenti...

Attentional bias in math anxiety

Cognitive theory from the field of general anxiety suggests that the tendency to display attentional bias toward negative information results in anxiety. Accordingly, the current study aims to investigate whether attentional bias is involved in math anxiety (MA) as well (i.e., a persistent negative reaction to math). Twenty seven participants (14 with high levels of MA and 13 with low levels of...

Math 563: Measure Theory Assignment

Female Teachers’ Math Anxiety Impacts Girls’ Math Achievement

People’s fear and anxiety about doing math – over and above actual math ability – can be an impediment to their math achievement. We show that when the math anxious individuals are female elementary school teachers, their math anxiety carries negative consequences for the math achievement of their female students. Early elementary school teachers in the U.S. are almost exclusively female (> 90%...