The impact of mathematics anxiety, gender, and mathematics achievement on ontogenetic indicators for Hispanic/Latino students in higher education mathematics classes

Abstract

A convenience sample of 123 Hispanic/Latino students from a predominantly Hispanic/Latino South Texas community college was used to determine if gender and/or journal-writing had any effects on mathematics anxiety or achievement. Eight sections of college-algebra courses were administered the Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale (MARS) to determine levels of mathematics anxiety and the Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA) to determine levels of mathematical achievement. Results of the study suggest that journal-writing decreases levels of mathematics anxiety among students. In addition, the study suggests that males and females do not differ in terms of mathematical achievement. These finding are consistent with previous studies. However, the study also suggested that males and females report the same levels of mathematics anxiety and that journal-writing does not increase mathematical achievement. This is in contrast to previous published studies.