Anxiety towards teaching mathematics experienced by pre-service primary teachers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15359/ru.39-1.26Keywords:
Formación de docentes de primaria, matemáticas, estudiantes universitarios, afectividad, ansiedad, enseñanzaAbstract
[Objective] This study aimed to deepen the understanding of anxiety associated with teaching mathematics among university students in Primary Education programs in Costa Rica. [Methodology] A descriptive quantitative study was conducted with students from the three public universities offering the Primary Education program in Costa Rica. The sample consisted of 223 pre-service primary teachers. The significance of 11 sociodemographic variables regarding anxiety levels towards teaching mathematics was investigated. Differences between groups were analyzed using t-tests for dichotomous variables and one-way ANOVA for the remaining variables. Data was analyzed with SPSS, and results were considered significant if p < 0.05. [Results] Most participants exhibited a medium level of anxiety regarding the teaching of mathematics. Significant differences were found in academic performance for the general construct and for the dimensions of content knowledge, self-confidence, and attitudes toward teaching mathematics. Significant differences were also observed according to employment status in the content knowledge dimension, the grade they least preferred to teach in that same dimension, and age in the didactic knowledge dimension. [Conclusions] Participants with lower academic performance showed higher levels of anxiety overall. In addition, participants who avoided teaching sixth grade and older subjects exhibited higher levels of anxiety related to their content knowledge and didactic knowledge, respectively.
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