Self theories of intelligence and maths anxiety in a first year statistics cohort

Paper

O'Shea, A. and Swan, T.. 2011. "Self theories of intelligence and maths anxiety in a first year statistics cohort." Byrne, Don (ed.) 46th Australian Psychological Society Annual Conference 2011. Canberra, Australia 04 - 08 Oct 2011 Melbourne, Australia.
Paper/Presentation Title

Self theories of intelligence and maths anxiety in a first year statistics cohort

Presentation TypePaper
AuthorsO'Shea, A. (Author) and Swan, T. (Author)
EditorsByrne, Don
Journal or Proceedings TitleProceedings of the 46th Australian Psychological Society Annual Conference
ERA Conference ID50300
Number of Pages1
Year2011
Place of PublicationMelbourne, Australia
ISBN9780909881436
Web Address (URL) of Paperhttp://www.psychology.org.au/Assets/Files/Combined-Abstracts-of-2011-Australian-Psychology-Conferences.pdf
Conference/Event46th Australian Psychological Society Annual Conference 2011
Australian Psychological Society (APS) Annual Conference
Event Details
46th Australian Psychological Society Annual Conference 2011
Event Date
04 to end of 08 Oct 2011
Event Location
Canberra, Australia
Event Details
Australian Psychological Society (APS) Annual Conference
APS Annual Conference
Abstract

Overcoming maths anxiety and beliefs of inability is one of the greatest obstacles psychology students report when faced with the prospect of studying statistics at university for the first time. Integrating interventions into standard curriculum and pedagogical practices may assist in reducing these beliefs and distress. This research investigates how self-theories of intelligence impact on maths anxiety levels in students studying first year statistics. It examines whether a series of short interventions embedded in the curriculum can change a student's self-theory of intelligence, moving them from a fixed (entity theorist perspective) to a more fluid view (incremental theorist perspective) of intelligence, and whether this in turn reduces reported levels of overall maths anxiety. A study was conducted using a cohort of 213 first year students, with information collected on a student's self-theory of intelligence and maths anxiety levels via three surveys. A control group of 120 students completed the survey only, while a further 93 students
completed the survey and participated in a series of intervention workshops. Both the control group and the intervention group demonstrated a significant increase in scores on the self-theory questionnaire indicating that both groups showed a shift towards the incremental theory of intelligence. Those students who were originally identified as entity theorist, showed the greatest shift in self-theory scores within the intervention group. Of most interest was a reduction in maths anxiety in the intervention cohort compared with an increase in maths anxiety with the control cohort, with a significant difference in a change of maths anxiety levels between the two groups. Overall this study found that the self-theory of intelligence has a direct relationship with a student's maths anxiety level at a university level and that a shift in self-theory, to a more fluid perspective of intelligence, may reduce maths anxiety levels. These results have implications regarding choice of pedagogical practices and curriculum content to be used with first year
psychology students encountering statistics for the first time.

Keywordsability; anxiety; stress; mathematics; statistics; first year
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020520102. Educational psychology
390109. Mathematics and numeracy curriculum and pedagogy
390409. Learning sciences
Public Notes

The author/s will retain copyright of their abstract, in addition to the moral rights they are entitled to as author/s of the abstract. The Australian Psychological Society Ltd does not hold copies of any papers presented at conferences. A formal paper was not produced for publication in the conference proceedings as the APS conference organisers decided not to offer this in 2011.

Byline AffiliationsDepartment of Psychology
Faculty of Sciences
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
Permalink -

https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q1513/self-theories-of-intelligence-and-maths-anxiety-in-a-first-year-statistics-cohort

Log in to edit
  • 2517
    total views
  • 8
    total downloads
  • 2
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Exploring pre-service teachers’ affective-reflective skills: the effect of variations of a novel self-evaluation protocol
Woolcott, Geoff, Whannell, Robert, Marshman, Margaret, Galligan, Linda, Yeigh, Tony and Axelsen, Taryn. 2023. "Exploring pre-service teachers’ affective-reflective skills: the effect of variations of a novel self-evaluation protocol." Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/1359866X.2023.2227942
Statistics poster competitions: an opportunity to connect academics and teachers
Dunn, Peter K., Richardson, Alice, Prodromou, Theodosia and Axelsen, Taryn. 2020. "Statistics poster competitions: an opportunity to connect academics and teachers." Statistics Education Research Journal. 19 (1).
Variations on a Theme: Pre-service Mathematics Teacher Reflections Using an Affect-based Critical Moment Protocol
Marshman, Margaret, Galligan, Linda, Axelsen, Taryn, Woolcott, Geoff and Whannell, Robert. 2018. "Variations on a Theme: Pre-service Mathematics Teacher Reflections Using an Affect-based Critical Moment Protocol." Hunter, Jodie, Darragh, Lisa and Perger, Pam (ed.) 41st Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (MERGA41). Auckland, New Zealand 01 - 05 Jul 2018 Payneham, Australia.
The R in the ELR Process: Reflection and the Emotions of PreService Teachers. A Case Study
Axelsen, Taryn, Galligan, Linda and Woolcott, Geoff. 2018. "The R in the ELR Process: Reflection and the Emotions of PreService Teachers. A Case Study." Hunter, Jodie, Darragh, Lisa and Perger, Pam (ed.) 41st Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (MERGA41). Auckland, New Zealand 01 - 05 Jul 2018 Payneham, Australia.
Measured UV Exposures of Ironman, Sprint and Olympic-Distance Triathlon Competitors
Downs, Nathan J., Axelsen, Taryn, Parisi, Alfio V., Schouten, Peter W. and Dexter, Ben R.. 2020. "Measured UV Exposures of Ironman, Sprint and Olympic-Distance Triathlon Competitors." Atmosphere. 11 (5), pp. 1-15. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11050440
How are we progressing with academic numeracy at regional universities? Perspectives from first-year undergraduate studies
Woolcott, Geoff, Galligan, Linda, Whannell, Robert, Marshman, Margaret, Axelsen, Taryn, Schmalz, Jelena and Sultanova, Nargiz. 2021. "How are we progressing with academic numeracy at regional universities? Perspectives from first-year undergraduate studies." Mathematics Education Research Journal. 33, pp. 451-468. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13394-020-00312-3
It’s part of my life and the modelling process
Galligan, Linda, Axelsen, Taryn, Pennicott, Toni, Addie, Ron, Galbraith, Peter and Woolcott, Geoff. 2019. "It’s part of my life and the modelling process ." Journal of Mathematics Teacher Education. 22 (4), pp. 355-378. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10857-019-09426-3
The work-integrated learning program: developing employability skills in psychology undergraduates
Marrington, Jessica Z., O'Shea, Annissa and Burton, Lorelle J.. 2019. "The work-integrated learning program: developing employability skills in psychology undergraduates." Trimmer, Karen, Newman, Tara and Padro, Fernando F. (ed.) Ensuring quality in professional education volume I: human client fields pedagogy and knowledge structures. Cham, Switzerland. Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 241-258
Biologically effective solar ultraviolet exposures and the potential skin cancer risk for individual gold medalists of the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games
Downs, Nathan J., Axelsen, Taryn, Schouten, Peter, Igoe, Damien P., Parisi, Alfio V. and Vanos, Jennifer. 2019. "Biologically effective solar ultraviolet exposures and the potential skin cancer risk for individual gold medalists of the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games." Temperature. https://doi.org/10.1080/23328940.2019.1581427
Triathlon and the potential for solar ultraviolet exposure risk assessed during the swim, bicycle and running legs of competitive Australian Ironman events
Axelsen, Taryn, Parisi, Alfio V. and Downs, Nathan J.. 2018. "Triathlon and the potential for solar ultraviolet exposure risk assessed during the swim, bicycle and running legs of competitive Australian Ironman events." 4th International Conference on UV & Skin Cancer Prevention 2018. Toronto, Canada 01 - 04 May 2018
Face-to-face and virtual mathematics enrichment for rural schools: intersection of teachers, students, technology and pedagogy
Galligan, Linda, Addie, Ron, Axelsen, Taryn and Stern, Linda. 2017. "Face-to-face and virtual mathematics enrichment for rural schools: intersection of teachers, students, technology and pedagogy." Partridge, H., Davis, K. and Thomas, J. (ed.) 34th International Conference on Innovation, Practice and Research in the Use of Educational Technologies in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE 2017). Toowoomba, Australia 04 - 06 Dec 2017 Tugun, Australia.
The modelling process and pre-service teacher confidence
Axelsen, Taryn, Galligan, Linda and Woolcott, Geoff. 2017. "The modelling process and pre-service teacher confidence." 40th Annual Conference of the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (MERGA40). Melbourne, Australia 02 - 06 Jul 2017 Melbourne, Australia.
Reducing resource requirements and costs of work-based skills training for undergraduate psychology students: implementing the dedicated education unit model in work integrated learning
O'Shea, A.. 2013. "Reducing resource requirements and costs of work-based skills training for undergraduate psychology students: implementing the dedicated education unit model in work integrated learning." 48th Australian Psychological Society Annual Conference (APS 2013): Psychology for a Healthy Nation. Cairns, Australia 08 - 12 Oct 2013 Melbourne, Australia.
What is the impact of compulsory WIL experiences on undergraduate psychology students?
O'Shea, Annissa. 2013. "What is the impact of compulsory WIL experiences on undergraduate psychology students?" 48th Australian Psychological Society Annual Conference (APS 2013): Psychology for a Healthy Nation. Cairns, Australia 08 - 12 Oct 2013 Melbourne, Australia.
Work integrated learning curriculum for undergraduate psychology: a case study
O'Shea, A.. 2011. "Work integrated learning curriculum for undergraduate psychology: a case study." Byrne, Don (ed.) 46th Australian Psychological Society Annual Conference 2011. Canberra, Australia 04 - 08 Oct 2011 Melbourne, Australia.
Challenges in offering engineering programs at a new campus
Thorpe, David, Swan, Taryn and Hannigan, Delphine. 2009. "Challenges in offering engineering programs at a new campus." Kestell, Colin, Grainger, Steven and Cheung, John (ed.) 20th Annual Conference for the Australasian Association of Engineering Education (AAEE 2009). Adelaide, Australia 06 - 09 Dec 2009 Adelaide, Australia.
Designing festival experiences to influence visitor perceptions: the case of a wine and food festival
Axelsen, Megan and Swan, Taryn. 2010. "Designing festival experiences to influence visitor perceptions: the case of a wine and food festival." Journal of Travel Research. 49 (4), pp. 436-450. https://doi.org/10.117/00472875509346796
Information capacity designs for generalized linear models
Swan, Taryn, McGree, James, Lewis, Susan and Woods, Dave. 2010. "Information capacity designs for generalized linear models." Royal Statistical Society 2010 International Conference. Brighton, United Kingdom 13 - 17 Sep 2010
Defining special events from a gallery visitor perspective
Axelsen, Megan and Swan, Taryn. 2007. "Defining special events from a gallery visitor perspective." 3rd Tourism Outlook Conference in conjunction with the Global Event Congress II: Heritage & Tourism Alliance & Network Relationship, Event Management & Event Tourism. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 16 - 18 Jul 2007 Kuala Lumpa, Malaysia.
New directions for art galleries and museums: the use of special events to attract audiences - a case study of the Asia Pacific Triennial
Axelsen, Megan, Arcodia, Charles and Swan, Taryn. 2006. "New directions for art galleries and museums: the use of special events to attract audiences - a case study of the Asia Pacific Triennial." Journal of Hospitality, Tourism and Leisure Sciences.
Target similarity effects: support for the parallel distributed processing assumptions
Humphreys, Michael S., Tehan, Gerald, O'Shea, Annissa and Bolland, Scott W.. 2000. "Target similarity effects: support for the parallel distributed processing assumptions." Memory and Cognition. 28 (5), pp. 798-811.