The current study examined if correlations between statistics anxiety and dimensions of perfectionism (adaptive and maladaptive) were present amongst a sample of psychology graduate students (N = 96). Results demonstrated that scores on the APS-R Discrepancy scale, corresponding to maladaptive perfectionism, correlated with higher levels of statistics anxiety with several subscales of the Statistics Anxiety Rating Scale (STARS). Results also demonstrated negative correlations between bilingualism and dimensions of statistics anxiety. Implications for future research and practical implications are presented.
References
1.
AshbyJ. S.LoCiceroK. A., & KennyM. C. (2003). The relationship of multidimensional perfectionism to psychological birth order. Journal of Individual Psychology, 59, 42–51.
2.
AshbyJ., & RiceK. G. (2002). Multidimensional perfectionism, dysfunctional attitudes and self-esteem: A structural equations analysis. Journal of Counseling and Development, 29(2), 197–203. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6678.2002.tb00183.x
BandalosD. L.YatesK., & Thorndike-ChristT. (1995). Effects of math self-concept, perceived self-efficacy, and attributions for failure and success on test anxiety. Journal of Educational Psychology, 87, 611–623. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.87.4.611
6.
BellJ. A. (2003). Statistics anxiety: The nontraditional student. Education, 124, 157–162.
7.
BensonJ., & BandalosD. L. (1989). Structural model of statistical test anxiety in adults. In SchwarzerR. L.van der PloegH. M., & SpeilbergerC. D. (Eds.), Advances in test anxiety research (Vol. 6, pp. 137–151). Amsterdam: Swets & Zeitlinger.
8.
BerkR. A., & NandaJ. P. (1998). Effects of jocular instructional methods on attitudes, anxiety and achievement in statistics courses. International Journal of Humor Research, 11, 383–409. http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/humr.1998.11.4.383
9.
ChangE. C., & RandK. L. (2000). Perfectionism as a predictor of subsequent adjustment: Evidence for a specific diathesis-stress mechanism among college students. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 47, 129–137. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.47.1.129
10.
CruiseR.CashR., & BoltonD. (1985). Development and validation of an instrument to measure statistical anxiety. ASA proceedings of the section on statistical education section (pp. 92–97). Alexandria, VA: American Statistical Association.
FrostR. O.HeimbergR. G.HoltC. S.MattiaJ. I., & NeubauerA. L. (1993). A comparison of two measures of perfectionism. Personality and Individual Differences, 14, 119–126. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0191-8869(93)90181-2
13.
FrostR. O.MartenP.LahartC., & RosenblateR. (1990). The dimensions of perfectionism. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 14, 449–468. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF01172967
14.
GilmanR., & AshbyJ. S. (2003). A first study to investigate multidimensional life satisfaction and perfectionism in adolescents. Journal of Early Adolescence, 23, 218–235. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0272431603023002005
15.
GrzegorekJ. L.SlaneyR. B.FranzeS., & RiceK. R. (2004). Self-criticism, dependency, self-esteem, and grade point average satisfaction among clusters of perfectionists and nonperfectionists. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 51, 192–200. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.51.2.192
16.
HamachekD. E. (1978). Psychodynamics of normal and neurotic perfectionism. Psychology, 15, 27–33.
17.
HewittP. L., & FlettG. L. (1990). Perfectionism and depression: A multidimensional analysis. Journal of Social Behavior and Personality, 5, 423–438.
18.
HsiaoT., & ChiangS. (2011). Gender differences in statistics anxiety among graduate students learning English as a foreign language. Social Behavior and Personality, 39, 41–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.2224/sbp.2011.39.1.41
19.
LalondeR. N., & GardnerR. C. (1993). Statistics as a second language? A model for predicting performance in psychology students. Canadian Journal of Behavioral Science, 25, 108–125. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/h0078792
20.
MartinJ. L. (2005). Relations between adaptive and maladaptive perfectionism, stress and psychological adjustment. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. Georgia State University.
21.
MobleyM.SlaneyR. S., & RiceK. G. (2005). Cultural validity of The Almost Perfect Scale – revised for African American college students. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52, 629–639. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.52.4.629
OnwuegbuzieA. J.DaRosD., & RyanJ. M. (1997). The components of statistics anxiety: A phenomenological study. Focus on Learning Problems in Mathematics, 19, 11–35.
26.
OnwuegbuzieA. J., & SeamanM. A. (1995). The effect of time constraints and statistics test anxiety on test performance in a statistics course. Journal of Experimental Education, 63, 115–124. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00220973.1995.9943816
27.
OnwuegbuzieA. J.SlateJ. R.PattersonF. R. A.WatsonM. H., & SchwartzR. A. (2000). Factors associated with achievement in educational research courses. Research in the Schools, 7, 53–65.
28.
OnwuegbuzieA. J., & WilsonV. A. (2003). Statistics anxiety: Nature, etiology, antecedents, effects and treatments: A comprehensive review of the literature. Teaching in Higher Education, 8(2), 195–209. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1356251032000052447
29.
RiceK. G., & AldeaM. A. (2006). State dependence and trait stability of perfectionism: A short-term longitudinal study. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53, 205–213. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.53.2.205
30.
RiceK. G., & DellwoJ. P. (2002). Perfectionism and self-development: Implications for college adjustment. Journal of Counseling and Development, 80, 188–196. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6678.2002.tb00182.x
RiceK. G., & PreusserK. J. (2002). The Adaptive/Maladaptive Perfectionism Scale. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 34, 210–222.
33.
RiceK. G., & SlaneyR. B. (2002). Clusters of perfectionists: Two studies of emotional adjustment and academic achievement. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 35, 35–48.
34.
SaboonchiF., & LundhL. (2003). Perfectionism, anger, somatic health, and positive affect. Personality and Individual Differences, 35, 1585–1599. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(02)00382-3
35.
SlaneyR. B.RiceK. G.MobleyM.TrippiJ., & AshbyJ. S. (2001). The almost perfect scale revised. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 34, 130–145.
36.
SuddarthB. H., & SlaneyR. B. (2001). An investigation of the dimensions of perfectionism in college students. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 34(3), 157–165.
37.
WalshJ. J., & Ugumba-AgwunobiG. (2002). Individual differences in statistics anxiety: The roles of perfectionism, procrastination and trait anxiety. Personality and Individual Differences, 33(2), 239–251. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(01)00148-9
38.
WangK. T.YuenM., & SlaneyR. B. (2009). Perfectionism, depression, loneliness, and life satisfaction: A study of high school students in Hong Kong. The Counseling Psychologist, 37, 249–274. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0011000008315975
39.
YoonJ., & LauA. S. (2008). Maladaptive perfectionism and depressive symptoms among Asian American college students: Contributions of interdependence and parental relations. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 14, 92–101. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/1099-9809.14.2.92
40.
ZeidnerM. (1991). Statistics and mathematics anxiety in social science students: Some interesting parallels. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 61(3), 319–328. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.2044-8279.1991.tb00989.x
