Document Type

Dissertation

First Faculty Advisor

Schumacher, Phyllis

Keywords

Math; Performance; one-on-one; instruction; gender;

Publisher

Bryant University

Abstract

This fall 2010 study of Bryant University students enrolled in freshman-level math courses considered factors related to college-level math performance, including gender, math self-efficacy, math anxiety, and utilization of professors’ office hours and/or tutoring center services. Female students at Bryant reported lower levels of math self-efficacy and higher levels of math anxiety, both of which research has shown to be negatively correlated with test scores. The use of one-on-one instruction was expected to provide a potential counterweight to this equation. Results from the 287 initial and 229 final surveys administered in this study did not support this hypothesis. This phenomenon was interpreted and potential solutions to the gender problem in mathematics were explored.

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