Math Phobia among School Students: A Comparative Design

Abstract

Background: A Comparative study was conducted to assess the level of Math Phobia (Mathematical Anxiety) among high School students in selected Government and Private Schools, Kollam, Kerala. A total sample of 60, High school students were selected using convenience sampling technique. The objectives of the study were to assess the level of Math Phobia/Mathematical Anxiety among Government and Private High School students and to compare the level of Math Phobia/Mathematical Anxiety among Government and Private High School students. The final objective was to find out the association between level of Math Phobia/Mathematical Anxiety and selected Socio-demographic variables. Materials and Methods: A Descriptive Comparative design was used to conduct the study. A sample comprising of 60 High School students (30 Government and 30 Private) from 10th Standard were enrolled using non-probability convenience sampling technique. The conceptual framework of the study was based on Modified Health Belief Model by Becker and Rosenstock (1974). Tools used for data collection were Demographic Performa and Modified Abbreviated Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale. Results: Data analysis was done using Descriptive and Inferential statistics. Findings of the study revealed that the mean Mathematical anxiety among Government High School students was 33.83±9.80 and the mean Mathematical anxiety among Private High School students were 45.87±17. The comparison of the mean Mathematical Anxiety scores among the Government and Private High School students were done using the ‘Student t-test’. The computed ‘t-value’ at 3.27** (df = 58) was statistically significant at p < 0.01. No significant association was observed between the level of Math Phobia and selected Socio-demographic variables among both Government and Private School students (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The findings of the study confirmed that the level of Math Phobia/Mathematical Anxiety among the Private High School students were significantly higher than the Government High school students.