Development of Math Anxiety in HURM Undergraduate Students (Poster 43)

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Friday 3:20 p.m.
  In Invited Poster Session: 2025 AERA Undergraduate Fellows Research Poster Fair

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the root causes of math anxiety in historically underrepresented minorities (HURM) at Smith College. My research will adopt the Mcadams Life Story Model of Identity. The psychology of life stories informs researchers about the narratives of individuals living in modern society to tell human behavior and experience. Using this model, I can extract the underlying values and the skills that historically underrepresented minorities (HURM) have developed or need to develop to succeed in STEM. Discourse Analysis is a linguistic method that allows researchers to use language to inform the context of more significant social problems. Data for this study was collected through two-session interviews that asked participants about their experiences and attitudes toward STEM. All participants were juniors and seniors STEM majors enrolled in Smith College. Although findings are still in development, the interviews suggest that nuances between the relationships of identity, belonging, and perceived competence contribute to the development of math anxiety. The next steps for this research include recruiting more participants for interviews. This research aims to provide later frameworks for informed pedagogy and institutional policies to be adopted for equity in STEM education for HURM students.

Author

• Sofia Lucero Morales, Smith College