Abstract
The study aims to determine the effectiveness of systematic desensitization techniques to reduce exam anxiety in grade VIII students at SMP N 3 Ungaran. The study used a quantitative approach with experimental types and the One Group Pretest-Posttest Design. The subjects in this study were five students. This study uses a random assignment to determine the subject of the study. Data collection using a scale of anxiety to face the test. The study results were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test. The results of the analysis show that Rational Emotive Behavior (REB) counseling with systematic desensitization techniques is effective in reducing student anxiety in facing exams. The results of the study provide recommendations for counselors to facilitate students in reducing anxiety in facing exams in students through systematic sensitization techniques. Further research can use the results of the study as a reference to determine the effectiveness of other techniques in counseling to reduce exam anxiety.
Highlights
Test is one of the means to evaluate students’ academic success
The present study aimed to find out the effectiveness of Rational Emotive Behavior counseling with systematic desensitization technique in reducing 8th-grade students’ anxiety test in SMPN 3 Ungaran
The result of this study could be used as a reference for school counselors to help their students reduce their test anxiety by applying Rational Emotive Behavior (REB) counseling with systematic desensitization
Summary
Test is one of the means to evaluate students’ academic success. According to Olivia (2011), students’ success in performing test may be influenced by cognitive factors (20%) and psychological factors (80%) A test may trigger one’s positive psychological component known as achievement motivation. The most dominant component in test anxiety is the cognitive component, indicated by concentration difficulty, confusion, and mental blocking (Tresna, 2011; Riswandi, 2014). This kind of anxiety may irritate students cognitively, physically, and psychologically, lowering their performance and motivation during the test. The present study aimed to find out the effectiveness of REB counseling with systematic desensitization technique in reducing students’ test anxiety. The result of this study could be used as a reference for school counselors to help their students reduce their test anxiety by applying REB counseling with systematic desensitization. The data were collected using the adapted version of Spielberger's test anxiety scale (in Taylor and Deane, 2002) and analyzed using Wilcoxon Signed Ranks
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