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The Abbreviated Math Anxiety Scale (AMAS): construction, validity, and reliability.
Derek R Hopko1, Rajan Mahadevan, Robert L Bare
1University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Department of Psychology, 37996-0900, USA. dhopko@utk.edu
Assessment
|June 13, 2003
Summary
Researchers developed a brief math anxiety scale (AMAS) with strong psychometric properties. This validated Abbreviated Math Anxiety Scale offers a more efficient and reliable way to measure math anxiety in large samples.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Educational Psychology
- Psychometrics
Background:
- Mathematics anxiety measures require further psychometric evaluation.
- Existing measures may lack parsimony or adequate validation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate an abbreviated measure of mathematics anxiety.
- To assess the psychometric properties and generalizability of the new scale.
Main Methods:
- Exploratory factor analysis on a large sample (N = 1,239).
- Internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and convergent/divergent validity assessments.
- Model generalizability tested on an independent replication sample.
Main Results:
- A nine-item Abbreviated Math Anxiety Scale (AMAS) was developed.
- The AMAS demonstrated strong internal consistency and test-retest reliability.
- Excellent model fit and good validity were confirmed in independent samples.
Conclusions:
- The Abbreviated Math Anxiety Scale (AMAS) is a psychometrically sound instrument.
- AMAS offers a parsimonious and valid approach for assessing mathematics anxiety.
- The scale's generalizability supports its use across diverse samples.