Abstract
Mathematical Anxiety refers to a “feeling of tension, apprehension, or fear that interferes with mathematical performance” (Ashcraft, 2002). It can make it hard to concentrate, solve problems, or even try mathematical tasks. It can lead to avoidance of mathematical-related tasks, poor performance, and low self-confidence. Scientific Literacy is the “ability of students to use their Scientific knowledge and skills in different areas and life situations”, PISA (2006). It includes understanding scientific concepts, processes, and the ability to think critically, interpret data, and apply scientific reasoning (OECD, 2019). This paper intends to find out the relationship between the Mathematical Anxiety and Scientific Literacy of Secondary School Students. The investigator used the normative survey method for the present study. The population of the present study comprises all the secondary students in Kerala. A sample of 150 secondary students was selected from Thiruvananthapuram district. The investigator used the Mathematical Anxiety Scale, which included components of mathematical test anxiety and numerical anxiety, and the Scientific Literacy Test, which assessed science content, context of science, science processes, and scientific attitudes, to collect the data. Descriptive statistics, t-test and coefficient of correlation were used for interpreting the data. The investigator analyzed a significant and strong negative correlation between Mathematical Anxiety and Scientific Literacy of Secondary School Students. The study found that high Mathematical Anxiety can significantly impact Scientific Literacy, as students may struggle with quantitative scientific tasks, such as interpreting graphs, solving equations, and analyzing data (Ashcraft & Krause, 2007). This outcome of the study is consistent with Khoule, Ayub, and Mahmud’s (2020) research, which showed that lower Mathematical Anxiety correlates with more positive attitudes toward science and improved performance in science-related tasks, highlighting a critical emotional link between mathematical comfort and scientific understanding.
KEYWORDS
Mathematical Anxiety, Scientific Literacy, Curriculum, Educational Practices, Secondary School Students.
Sikha V.R.1, Ramachandran R.A2*, Bindu R. L.3
1Post Doctoral Fellow, Department of Education, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram-695034, Kerala, India
2Research Scholar, Department of Education, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram-695034, Kerala, India
3Department of Education, University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram-695034, Kerala, India