TY - JOUR
T1 - Reducing statistics anxiety for psychology students during the global pandemic
T2 - a methodology approach
AU - Jazayeri, Mitra
AU - Li, Xia
AU - Morris, Eric
AU - Laurence, Dan
AU - Loch, Birgit
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Statistics anxiety is a significant problem for students’ learning experience in the psychological sciences. This article explores a novel teaching methodological approach during the global pandemic to improve students’ performance by reducing their statistics anxiety. The subject design and teaching methodological approach were developed based on twenty years of experience taking into consideration the student feedback, while its implementation was aligned with the 5-E’s Victorian Teaching and Learning pedagogical Model (VTLM). Moreover, to reduce the statistics anxiety, two sections were embedded in the Learning Management System of the subject: (1) an interactive web-based mindfulness intervention and (2) a head-start ‘Ready, Set, Go’ information pack. The implementation of these approaches resulted in a better understanding of statistical concepts and utilization of the SPSS software by the majority of the students (80% pass-rate). Consequently, a 6% increase in pass rates and an average of 32% increase in satisfaction scores for each item in the university central survey were observed. While the uniqueness of the first year of COVID-period makes comparisons difficult, it is matched by the urgency of the need for effective interventions to support student success.
AB - Statistics anxiety is a significant problem for students’ learning experience in the psychological sciences. This article explores a novel teaching methodological approach during the global pandemic to improve students’ performance by reducing their statistics anxiety. The subject design and teaching methodological approach were developed based on twenty years of experience taking into consideration the student feedback, while its implementation was aligned with the 5-E’s Victorian Teaching and Learning pedagogical Model (VTLM). Moreover, to reduce the statistics anxiety, two sections were embedded in the Learning Management System of the subject: (1) an interactive web-based mindfulness intervention and (2) a head-start ‘Ready, Set, Go’ information pack. The implementation of these approaches resulted in a better understanding of statistical concepts and utilization of the SPSS software by the majority of the students (80% pass-rate). Consequently, a 6% increase in pass rates and an average of 32% increase in satisfaction scores for each item in the university central survey were observed. While the uniqueness of the first year of COVID-period makes comparisons difficult, it is matched by the urgency of the need for effective interventions to support student success.
KW - acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
KW - anxiety
KW - COVID-19
KW - global pandemic
KW - methodological approach
KW - Mindfulness module/intervention
KW - statistics anxiety
KW - student satisfaction
KW - teaching statistics
KW - tertiary
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85129828247&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/0020739X.2022.2059716
DO - 10.1080/0020739X.2022.2059716
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85129828247
SN - 0020-739X
VL - 55
SP - 1769
EP - 1788
JO - International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology
JF - International Journal of Mathematical Education in Science and Technology
IS - 8
ER -