"I think I can, but I'm afraid to try": The role of self-efficacy beliefs and mathematics anxiety in mathematics problem-solving efficiency

    Authors

    B. Hoffman

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Learn. Individ. Differ.

    Keywords

    Self-efficacy; Mathematics anxiety; Problem-solving efficiency; WORKING-MEMORY CAPACITY; MATH ANXIETY; GENDER-DIFFERENCES; INDIVIDUAL-DIFFERENCES; SCHOOL-STUDENTS; SEX-DIFFERENCES; PATH-ANALYSIS; PERFORMANCE; MULTIPLICATION; ACHIEVEMENT; Psychology, Educational

    Abstract

    This study investigated the role of self-efficacy beliefs, mathematics anxiety, and working memory capacity in problem-solving accuracy, response time, and efficiency (the ratio of problem-solving accuracy to response time). Pre-service teachers completed a mathematics anxiety inventory measuring cognitive and affective dispositions for mathematics, before completing an operation span task to measure working memory capacity, rating self-efficacy for mental multiplication, and then solved computer-based multiplication problems at two complexity levels. A simultaneous regression design was used to assess the unique variance associated with each variable. There were two new findings: the differential role of self-efficacy on response time and efficiency, and the potential compensatory relationship between self-efficacy and mathematics anxiety related to efficiency outcomes. Educational implications and suggestions for future research were proposed. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

    Journal Title

    Learning and Individual Differences

    Volume

    20

    Issue/Number

    3

    Publication Date

    1-1-2010

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    276

    Last Page

    283

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000278762500023

    ISSN

    1041-6080

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