Some Dimensions of Mathematics Anxiety: A Factor Analysis Across Instruments

Abstract

The factor structure of the items of three commonly used measures of mathematics anxiety was examined using a sample of 323 undergraduates enrolled in a required college algebra course. Six oblique factors were identified: Mathematics Test Anxiety, Numerical Anxiety, Negative Affect Toward Mathematics, Worry, Positive Affect Toward Mathematics, and Mathematics Course Anxiety. In general, the factors tended to be specific to the particular mathematics anxiety scales with few items from one scale combining with items from another scale to define a given factor. Of particular interest was the identification of the dimensions of positive and negative affect toward mathematics. Additionally, the inter correlations among the factors were subjected to structural equation modeling to see if the factors measured a common dimension. The results did not support the existence of a single common dimension of mathematics anxiety as represented by the six factors.

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