Title

"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

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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