The Relationship Between Math Anxiety and Math Performance: A Meta-Analytic Investigation
Math anxiety (MA) has been suggested to decrease the math performance of students. However, it remains unclear what factors moderate this relationship. The aim of this research was to explore the link between MA and math performance. Studies that explored the math anxiety-performance link, conducted...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2019-08-01
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Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01613/full |
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author | Jing Zhang Nan Zhao Qi Ping Kong |
author_facet | Jing Zhang Nan Zhao Qi Ping Kong |
author_sort | Jing Zhang |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Math anxiety (MA) has been suggested to decrease the math performance of students. However, it remains unclear what factors moderate this relationship. The aim of this research was to explore the link between MA and math performance. Studies that explored the math anxiety-performance link, conducted from 2000 to 2019 (84 samples, N = 8680), were identified and statistically integrated with a meta-analysis method. The results indicated a robust negative math anxiety-performance link. Furthermore, regarding the analysis of moderator variables, this negative link was stronger in the studies that involved Asian students, but this link was the weakest in the studies that involved European students. Moreover, this negative link was stronger in the studies within a senior high school group, whereas it was the weakest in the studies within an elementary group. Finally, this negative link was strongest among studies that used a custom test and studies that assessed problem-solving skills. Potential explanations and implications for research and practice are discussed. |
first_indexed | 2024-12-10T04:19:41Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-d902c447297a463684a51eb7b1bf3ba1 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1664-1078 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-12-10T04:19:41Z |
publishDate | 2019-08-01 |
publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
record_format | Article |
series | Frontiers in Psychology |
spelling | doaj.art-d902c447297a463684a51eb7b1bf3ba12022-12-22T02:02:28ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782019-08-011010.3389/fpsyg.2019.01613458192The Relationship Between Math Anxiety and Math Performance: A Meta-Analytic InvestigationJing Zhang0Nan Zhao1Qi Ping Kong2Faculty of Education, College of Teacher Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, ChinaSchool of Psychology and Cognitive Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, ChinaFaculty of Education, College of Teacher Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, ChinaMath anxiety (MA) has been suggested to decrease the math performance of students. However, it remains unclear what factors moderate this relationship. The aim of this research was to explore the link between MA and math performance. Studies that explored the math anxiety-performance link, conducted from 2000 to 2019 (84 samples, N = 8680), were identified and statistically integrated with a meta-analysis method. The results indicated a robust negative math anxiety-performance link. Furthermore, regarding the analysis of moderator variables, this negative link was stronger in the studies that involved Asian students, but this link was the weakest in the studies that involved European students. Moreover, this negative link was stronger in the studies within a senior high school group, whereas it was the weakest in the studies within an elementary group. Finally, this negative link was strongest among studies that used a custom test and studies that assessed problem-solving skills. Potential explanations and implications for research and practice are discussed.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01613/fullmath anxietymath performancemeta-analysisstudentsmoderator analysis |
spellingShingle | Jing Zhang Nan Zhao Qi Ping Kong The Relationship Between Math Anxiety and Math Performance: A Meta-Analytic Investigation Frontiers in Psychology math anxiety math performance meta-analysis students moderator analysis |
title | The Relationship Between Math Anxiety and Math Performance: A Meta-Analytic Investigation |
title_full | The Relationship Between Math Anxiety and Math Performance: A Meta-Analytic Investigation |
title_fullStr | The Relationship Between Math Anxiety and Math Performance: A Meta-Analytic Investigation |
title_full_unstemmed | The Relationship Between Math Anxiety and Math Performance: A Meta-Analytic Investigation |
title_short | The Relationship Between Math Anxiety and Math Performance: A Meta-Analytic Investigation |
title_sort | relationship between math anxiety and math performance a meta analytic investigation |
topic | math anxiety math performance meta-analysis students moderator analysis |
url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01613/full |
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