Annotated Citation Week 6
Ashcraft, M. H., & Kirk, E. P. (2001). The
relationships among working memory, math anxiety, and performance.
Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 130,
224-237.
This
study focuses on the relationship between math anxiety and its effects on
mathematical performance, as well as the processing components that are
influenced by the anxiety. Other studies had shown that people with math
anxiety took longer to do simple math problems that people without math
anxiety; also the research found showed high error rates on long and difficult
problems. Working memory also plays a role in speeding up problem solving time
and fact retrieval; those with a deficit in their working memory are slower and
more careless. This reduced working-memory capacity is caused by information
disruptions in the processing of mathematical information. Therefore, anxiety
and attitude toward math at a young age can cause increased anxiety, poor
performance, and a reduced working memory toward math in later life
I
chose this article because of its relevance to today’s students. I found it to
be very informative as well as extremely interesting because it reminds me of
people I know. Also, it helped me better understand the relationship between
anxiety and substance abuse.
Calvo, M. G., & Avero, P. (2002). Eye
movement assessment of emotional processing in anxiety. Emotion, 2, 105-117.