Math Anxiety Affects Skills As Basic As Counting

thirty-seven writes "According to four Canadian psychologists, a study they have conducted shows that math anxiety, 'the feeling of fear and dread of performing mathematical calculations,' can negatively affect mathematical tasks much simpler and more basic than previously thought. In the study, participants were asked to count black squares on a white screen. The number of squares shown ranged from one to nine and participants were given as much time as they wanted before answering. When the number of squares was in the subitizing range (one to four), both math-anxious and non-math-anxious participants performed equally well, but when the number of squares was in the counting range (five to nine), the math-anxious group took longer and were less accurate. The University of Waterloo's news release about the study includes this interesting note: 'Previous studies have shown that a weakness in basic math abilities has a greater negative effect on employment opportunities than reading difficulties [do].'"

Comments

The REAL story - Canadian Uni Students are Dumb as

[tomhudson]

In two experiments, 28 undergraduate students - 14 with low math anxiety and 14 with high math anxiety - were shown a set of black squares on a computer screen. The squares ranged in number from one to nine and participants were simply asked to identify the number of squares.

Although they were timed, participants were not rushed and the display stayed on the screen until a response was made.

When there were one to four squares presented (the subitizing range), both groups of students performed equally well.

But when there were five or more squares presented (the counting range), the math anxious students were significantly slower and less accurate in counting the squares.

If you can't count to 9, you shouldn't be in university. Just as if you can't write a 2-page memo, you shouldn't be in university.

Maybe I can get a grant to study whether it's due to the consumption of Canadian beer, or just colder weather freezing their grey matter.