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Do girls really experience more anxiety in mathematics?
Goetz, Thomas Bieg, Madeleine Ludtke, Oliver Pekrun, Reinhard Hall, Nathan C.
Goetz, Thomas
Bieg, Madeleine
Ludtke, Oliver
Pekrun, Reinhard
Hall, Nathan C.
Abstract
Two studies were conducted to examine gender differences in trait (habitual) versus state (momentary) mathematics anxiety in a sample of students (Study 1: N = 584; Study 2: N = 111). For trait math anxiety, the findings of both studies replicated previous research showing that female students report higher levels of anxiety than do male students. However, no gender differences were observed for state anxiety, as assessed using experience-sampling methods while students took a math test (Study 1) and attended math classes (Study 2). The discrepant findings for trait versus state math anxiety were partly accounted for by students’ beliefs about their competence in mathematics, with female students reporting lower perceived competence than male students despite having the same average grades in math. Implications for educational practices and the assessment of anxiety are discussed.
Keywords
emotions, sex differences, science education, academic achievement, mathematics achievement
Date
2013
Type
Journal article
Journal
Psychological Science
Book
Volume
24
Issue
10
Page Range
2079-2087
Article Number
ACU Department
Institute for Positive Psychology and Education
Faculty of Education and Arts
Faculty of Education and Arts
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
File Access
Controlled