Mathematics Anxiety in Black Caribbean and white working class students

Maths anxiety (MA) is an academic anxiety about learning and doing mathematics. MA correlates negatively with maths performance in large samples and at the country level. MA is stronger in female than in male students and many mathematically well performing students also have high MA. MA may play key role in blocking educational progress towards mathematics-heavy career choices in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields. The project aims to investigate MA in Black Caribbean and white working-class secondary school students. Currently we know strikingly little about MA in these population groups which are the least likely to pursue higher level STEM studies. We will aim to recruit and test 400 students with questionnaires, computerized tests and a subsample of 80 students would also be interviewed about mathematical learning experiences. Results will inform theory and will contribute to providing educational and mental health intervention recommendations for schools.