Publication Date

5-2024

Advisor(s) - Committee Chair

Steven Wininger, Sarah Bonis, Pitt Derryberry

Degree Program

Department of Psychology

Degree Type

Specialist Project

Abstract

Many individuals experience anxiety prior to performing. Anxiety may facilitate successful performance for some people, while having catastrophic effects on performance for others. There are a variety of theories that explain how anxiety may impact performance. The goal of this study was to create a diagnostic tool based on eight of the most prevalent theories in order to generate individual profiles aimed at providing guidance for how to best regulate anxiety and to produce better and more enjoyable performances. This tool was piloted on undergraduate mathematics students at Western Kentucky University. The aim was to facilitate individual understanding about how math test anxiety impacts each individual’s performance. Overall, acceptable reliability was found for all item sets except for Directionality. We were unable to determine validity for the Goal Orientation or Conscious Processing Hypothesis item sets with the existing data, however evidence of validity was found for all other item sets. Overall, while some adjustments should be made, this tool shows promise for use with mathematics students.

Disciplines

Education | Medicine and Health Sciences | Social and Behavioral Sciences

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Available for download on Thursday, April 22, 2027

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