Math Anxiety, Working Memory, and Math Achievement in Early Elementary School

Dados Bibliográficos

ID23315544
AutoresGabriel Ramirez (0000-0001-9936-8582, University of Chicago), Gerardo Ramirez (0000-0003-1244-6598, University of Chicago), Elizabeth A Gunderson (0000-0001-7108-2283, University of Chicago), Susan C Levine (0000-0002-8579-9290, University of Chicago), Sian L Beilock (0000-0002-0556-5241, University of Chicago, autor correspondente)
Ano2013
Volume14
Fascículo2
Páginas187-202
Data de publicação2013-04-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoJournal of Cognition and Development (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1524-8372 • E-ISSN: 1532-7647
EditoraInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/15248372.2012.664593
OpenAlexW2063561989
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas90
Referências citadas47

Although math anxiety is associated with poor mathematical knowledge and low course grades (Ashcraft & Krause, Citation2007), research establishing a connection between math anxiety and math achievement has generally been conducted with young adults, ignoring the emergence of math anxiety in young children. In the current study, we explored whether math anxiety relates to young children's math achievement. One hundred and fifty-four first- and second-grade children (69 boys, 85 girls) were given a measure of math achievement and working memory (WM). Several days later, children's math anxiety was assessed using a newly developed scale. Paralleling work with adults (Beilock, Citation2008), we found a negative relation between math anxiety and math achievement for children who were higher but not lower in WM. High-WM individuals tend to rely on WM-intensive solution strategies, and these strategies are likely disrupted when WM capacity is co-opted by math anxiety. We argue that early identification and treatment of math anxieties is important because these early anxieties may snowball and eventually lead students with the highest potential (i.e., those with higher WM) to avoid math courses and math-related career choices.

Academic achievement · Anxiety · Cognition · Developmental psychology · Mathematical anxiety · Mathematics education · Working memory · Education, Achievement, and Giftedness · Grit, Self-Efficacy, and Motivation · Motivation and Self-Concept in Sports · Psychology