A CROSS COMMUNITY STUDY OF MATHEMATICS ANXIETY BETWEEN THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ILLINOIS USA AND JORDAN

The purpose ofthe study is to examine whether there are any significant differences in the mathematics anxiety levels between high school students in Jordan and their counterparts in the United States. Another purpose is to examine whether there are gender differences related to mathematics anxiety among high school students ofboth communities. A total of1,386 high school students in the United States and Jordan participated in main study. This study showed that Jordanian high school students exhibited a significantly higher mathematics anxiety than United States high school students. Furthermore, the study revealed thatfemale high school students in the United States acquired a significantly higher mathematics anxiety level than males. Another finding of this study was that males in Jordan had a significantly higher level of mathematics anxiety than males in the United States. The findings and educational implications of the study are discussed in light ofthe cultural difference between the two communities.