Mathematics Anxiety and Mathematics Avoidance Behavior: a Validation Study of Two Mars Factor-Derived Scales

Abstract

Discriminant and concurrent validity of two factor-derived sub-scales, mathematics test anxiety (MTA) and numerical anxiety (NA), of the Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale (MARS) were tested. Sixty-eight females and 44 males from the pre-service program of the Faculty of Education, the University of Western Ontario, completed the Mathematics Avoidance Behavior Test (MABT), the Test Anxiety Inventory (TAI), and the two MARS factor-derived subscales. A significant difference was found between the correlations of MTA and NA with the emotionality subscale of the TAI for the female group, but not for the male group. MTA scores correlated significantly with the scores on the MABT but the NA did not. Problems in these instruments and the implications for future research were discussed.

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