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ABSTRACT
This study examined the perception of students of the causes of mathematics anxiety among secondary school students in Ovia North East Local Government Area, Edo state, Nigeria. The instrument used for data collection was a researcher designed questionnaire titled Perception of students of the causes of mathematics anxiety among secondary school students. The instrument has a reliability value of 0.82. One hundred senior secondary school students participated in the study. Data collected were analyzed using frequency counts, simple percentages and means.
The study revealed that mathematics anxiety has significant negative effect on students' performance in mathematics. Also, the level of involvements of teachers, parents and peers towards students' learning of mathematics has significant contribution to the level of mathematics anxiety prevalent in students. It was discovered that the mathematics teacher's teaching method, and also his or her attitude towards the students can either heighten or reduce the level of mathematics anxiety in the students. The students' learning environment was also discovered to be a major cause of mathematics anxiety as most students reported that they get distracted and tensed in a mathematics classroom. Majority of the students also reported that their greatest fear is coming to the front of the classroom to solve a problem due to fear of been embarrassed by the teacher or their peers.
It was recommended that school managements should ensure that students' mathematics anxiety is reduced by sensitizing mathematics teachers of the benefits of not intimidating students with cane and other threats, encouraging teachers and others to help students with their mathematics problems each time they come to them for help. Also, school managemants should ensure that adequate facilities are provided for the teaching and learning of mathematics in schools. Parents are also encouraged to ensure that they improve on their level of involvement in encouraging students in learning mathematics by buying mathematics textbooks and other mathematics related materials that can help them in learning mathematics effectively.
