Relationship between Mathematics Anxiety and Mathematics Achievement of Junior Secondary School Students in Maiduguri Metropolis, Borno State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study examined the relationship between mathematics anxiety and academic performance in mathematics of junior secondary school students in Maiduguri Metropolis. The study used both correlational and causal comparative research. Four hundred and forty three students were involved in the study. Mathematics Anxiety Questionnaire (MAQ) was used to collect data. Frequency counts, percentages, t-test and Pearson Product Moment Correlation were used in analyzing the data. The results showed that the level of students' mathematics anxiety was above average, and there was negative relationship between Mathematics anxiety and academic performance (r=-.64). Fear of failure in mathematics test and examination was the main reason why students were anxious of mathematics. The study concludes with some recommendations including that Mathematics teachers in Primary schools should examine their teaching methods and explore strategies to improve students attitude, confidence and test taking skills so that students suffering from mathematics anxiety can overcome this debilitating problem.