Self-concept, learning anxiety, and performance in mathematics learning: The moderating effect of teacher cognitive activation
Yuanhua Wang 1 *
More Detail
1 School of Education, College of Applied Human Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA* Corresponding Author

Abstract

Mathematics is a critical domain in education, and students’ performance and motivation levels can vary greatly when learning mathematics. Using data obtained from PISA 2012 assessment on the US high school students’ mathematics learning, this study examined the underlying mechanism through which mathematics self-concept affects students’ mathematics performance. Utilizing a regression-based PROCESS macro, the study revealed that students’ mathematics self-concept can have a significant impact on their mathematics performance by reducing mathematics learning anxiety. Additionally, an ordinary least squares regression indicated that the positive impact of mathematics self-concept on reducing mathematics learning anxiety was amplified by teacher cognitive activation. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the importance of teacher support and student self-concept in promoting mathematics education. The results indicate that students’ mathematics self-concept should be nurtured to help them develop a positive attitude towards mathematics and reduce anxiety levels, leading to better performance. Additionally, teachers can play a crucial role in helping students overcome mathematics learning anxiety by promoting cognitive activation.

License

This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Article Type: Research Article

EURASIA J Math Sci Tech Ed, Volume 19, Issue 9, September 2023, Article No: em2323

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/13499

Publication date: 01 Sep 2023

Online publication date: 23 Jul 2023

Article Views: 1700

Article Downloads: 1297

Open Access References How to cite this article