Time, Time, Time: Perceptions of the Causes of Mathematics Anxiety in Highly Maths Anxious Female Adult Learners

SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://sagepub.com

Y

17

Mathematics Anxiety; Females; Adult Learning; Adult Students; Student Attitudes; Social Cognition; Self Efficacy; Interpersonal Relationship; Student Behavior; Environmental Influences; Anxiety; Rating Scales; Teaching Styles; Teacher Characteristics

10.1177/0741713619896324

0741-7136

Adult learners and female students report higher levels of mathematics anxiety than their peers, suggesting that female adult learners may be particularly vulnerable. This study used Bandura's triarchic reciprocal causality model as a foundation and interviewed five highly mathematics anxious female adult learners to understand their perceptions of the causes of their mathematics anxiety. Thematic interpretation revealed five themes from the interviews; "time since last educational" experience emerged as the strongest theme, with other personal and environmental factors also emerging. The findings support a social cognitive perspective of mathematics anxiety. Suggestions for pedagogical techniques with adult learners are included.

As Provided

2020

EJ1258919