The Effect Of Math Anxiety On Junior School Students' Algebra Performance:the Mediation Role Of The Working Memory

Since putting forward the concept of mathematical anxiety,the researchers have done a lot of theoretical and empirical research.Most of the studies both at home and abroad believe that anxiety has a negative impact on math performance.Through a large number of previous empirical studies,as well as the processing efficiency theory,inhibition theory and the attention control theory,these illustrate that working memory plays an important role in mathematics anxiety and Mathematical achievement.However,previous studies on the effects of mathematical anxiety and working memory on mathematical performance mainly focuses on digital computing tasks,and rarely involves algebraic operations.Therefore,this study takes junior school students as subjects to explore the influence of mathematical anxiety on the scores of different difficult algebra problems and the role of the three component of working memory in the influence of mathematical anxiety in solving algebraic problem.This study used questionnaires to measure math anxiety levels and algebra scores,Using experimental task paradigm to measure verbal working memory,visual working memory and central executive system.In order to study the influence of mathematical anxiety and working memory on students' algebra.The results of the study are as follows:(1)The mathematical anxiety is negatively correlated with the achievement of simple algebra,the difficult algebra and the total algebra;After controlling the dimensions of stress and fear in mathematics anxiety,test anxiety and classroom anxiety have a significant negative predictive effect on the scores of simple algebra problems;After controlling fear of stress,emotional anxiety and classroom anxiety,test anxiety has a significant negative predictive effect on difficult algebra problems and total algebra scores;(2)There is a significant negative correlation between math anxiety and visual working memory and verbal working memory;There is no significant correlation between math anxiety and central executive system;After controlling fear of stress,emotional anxiety and classroom anxiety,test anxiety has a significant negative predictive effect on visual working memory and verbal working memory;(3)Verbal working memory was significantly positively correlated with achievement of difficult algebra and the achievement of total algebra.Visual working memory was significantly positively correlated with the achievement of simple algebra,the achievement of the difficult algebra and the f total algebra;After controlling verbal working memory,verbal working memory has a significant positive predictive effect on difficult algebra problems and total algebra scores;(4)Visual working memory plays a partial mediator between mathematics anxiety and the achievement of difficult algebra.Visual working memory plays a partial mediator between mathematics anxiety and the achievement of total algebra.