The Effect of Background Music on the Mathematics Test Anxiety of ...

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to 66 students attending the Texas Academy <strong>of</strong> Mathematics and Science. <strong>The</strong>re were no
significant correlations for the MARS total score with the SAT-M, SAT-V, and grade
point average. However, an interesting trend was found. Higher verbal scores and higher
grades were associated with lower levels <strong>of</strong> mathematics anxiety in males, while higher
grades were associated with higher levels <strong>of</strong> math anxiety for females. Lupkowski and
Schumacker suggest that higher mathematics anxiety may contribute to more success in
academic courses for mathematically talented females, but not males. When compared to
typical college students, the Academy students were found to have less mathematics
anxiety.
Mathematics performance. Llabre and Suarez (1985) looked at the level <strong>of</strong> math
anxiety as a predictor <strong>of</strong> mathematics performance. <strong>The</strong> 24-item revised MARS by Plake
and Parker was given to 184 undergraduates in Introductory Algebra. After controlling
for math aptitude, it was found that mathematics anxiety did not significantly improve the
prediction <strong>of</strong> grades in a beginning algebra course for either gender. Llabre and Suarez
suggested that, while math anxiety may have lead to avoidance <strong>of</strong> the subject, once the
student was enrolled their level <strong>of</strong> anxiety had little to do with the grade they receive in
the course.
While Llabre and Suarez did not find level <strong>of</strong> math anxiety to be a good predictor
<strong>of</strong> grades, Goolsby et al. (1987) created a variable involving a math anxiety score that
was found to be a good predictor <strong>of</strong> course grades. <strong>The</strong> participants were 118
undergraduates in a developmental mathematics program. Each undergraduate
completed four <strong>of</strong> the nine Mathematics Attitude Scales. <strong>The</strong> scales chosen were
Confidence in Learning Mathematics, Mathematics Anxiety, Attitude Toward Success in