Do Girls Really Experience More Anxiety in Mathematics?

AutorIn
Goetz, Thomas; Bieg,Madeleine; Lüdtke, Oliver; Pekrun, Reinhard; Hall, Nathan C.

Jahr
2013

in
Psychological Science OnlineFirst,

Typ der Publikation
Journal

Schlagworte
Angst, Stereotype, kognitive Fähigkeiten, selbsterfüllende Prophezeiungen

Internetseite
http://pss.sagepub.com/content/early/2013/08/27/0956797613486989.full.pdf+html

Datum des letzten Aufrufs
03.09.2013

Abstract
Two studies were conducted to examine gender differences in trait (habitual) versus state (momentary) mathematics anxiety in a sample of students (Study 1: N = 584; Study 2: N = 111). For trait math anxiety, the findings of both studies replicated previous research showing that female students report higher levels of anxiety than do male students. However, no gender differences were observed for state anxiety, as assessed using experience-sampling methods while students took a math test (Study 1) and attended math classes (Study 2). The discrepant findings for trait versus state math anxiety were partly accounted for by students’ beliefs about their competence in mathematics, with female students reporting lower perceived competence than male students despite having the same average grades in math. Implications for educational practices and the assessment of anxiety are discussed.