Date of Award

5-2003

Document Type

Thesis

Department

Education

First Advisor

Betsy Showalter

Second Advisor

Ross Pourdavood

Third Advisor

In Hai Ro

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to compare and contrast the anxiety levels of students before and after taking the computerized timed math test with the levels before and after taking the paper-and-pencil timed math test. Two second-grade classes were used in this research with each student taking each test once. The computer test, found at www .saxonpublishers.com/activities/basic fact_ sheets/, consisted of 50 addition questions to be completed in 30 seconds, and the paper-and-pencil version, adapted by the researcher from a Saxon created test, consisted of 100 addition questions to be completed in 60 seconds. The students' blood pressures and pulses were taken while they were at rest before the tests, right before they were told to begin the test, and right after the test was over. An elevation from the at rest readings to the beginning readings indicates increase in anxiety, as does an increase from the at rest readings to the ending readings. The differences in blood pressures and pulses of both tests were compared for each student with the least amount of change indicating less anxiety was experienced while taking that test. The scores of the two tests were also compared with the better score indicating less anxiety experienced while taking that test. All the students responded to a survey and several randomly chosen students were interviewed about their experiences and feelings toward the tests and research process.

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