Mathematical Anxiety as Predictor of Learning Motivation Strategies

Abstract

Empirical findings showed how mathematical anxiety of an individual predicts the academic performance of learners. As a coping mechanism, learners are left with various choices on dealing with subjects inclined with mathematical concepts. One way to cope up is the preference of learning motivation strategies. The motivation strategies were categorized into cognitive, meta-cognitive, non-informational resources management and informational resources management. However, there is a scarce literature on how anxiety could predict the behaviour of an individual’s accommodation of these strategies. This led the researcher to investigate the predictive behaviour of mathematical anxiety on student’s utilization of learning motivation strategies among senior high school students enrolled in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics program. The program was crafted for students who are inclined in sciences and mathematics. Results revealed respondents have moderate level of anxiety wherein course anxiety contributes to the level of anxiety felt. Among the learning motivation strategies, self-regulation strategy was the most commonly utilized strategy among respondents with peer learning as least utilized. However, bivariate analysis showed anxiety is moderately related with rehearsal, organization, effort regulation, time and study environment, peer learning and help-seeking strategies. Regression analysis was also tested to reveal how anxiety predicts specific learning motivation strategy. Analysis revealed that anxiety predicts the utilization of effort regulations strategies in learning mathematically inclined subjects. The findings provided a new perspective on how anxiety allows an individual to utilize available strategies for understanding various concepts. Teachers are encouraged to cultivate a culture of regulation, environment conducive for learning, peer interaction and access to Internet-based or digital resources for learning