The Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale, a brief version: psychometric data.

Area of Science:

• Psychometrics
• Educational Psychology
• Mental Health Assessment

Background:

• The Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale (MARS) has been a standard measure for mathematics anxiety since 1972.
• The original 98-item MARS can be time-consuming to administer in research and clinical settings.
• A need exists for a more efficient, yet equally effective, version of the MARS.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a shorter version of the Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale (MARS).
• To assess the reliability and validity of the new, abbreviated MARS.
• To provide a more time-efficient instrument for measuring mathematics anxiety.

Main Methods:

• Development of a shortened version of the original 98-item MARS.
• Statistical analysis to determine internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha.
• Assessment of test-retest reliability and construct validity compared to the original MARS.

Main Results:

• The shortened 30-item MARS demonstrated high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = .96).
• Excellent test-retest reliability was found for the MARS 30-item scale (r = .90, p<.001).
• Validity data indicated the 30-item MARS is comparable to the original 98-item scale.

Conclusions:

• The 30-item MARS is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing mathematics anxiety.
• This shorter version offers a practical alternative to the original MARS, reducing administration time.
• The MARS 30-item scale is suitable for research and clinical use where efficiency is important.