Translation, Adaptation, and Validation of the Children’s Mathematics Anxiety Scale into Turkish
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47750/pegegog.15.03.11Keywords:
Adaptation, cross-cultural, primary school, maths anxiety, validationAbstract
A new [Nation] version of the Children’s Mathematics Anxiety Scale UK (CMAS-UK) was created to be used with primary school samples (n= 1450). A multistep process was followed, including (1) the translation and adaptation of the scale; (2) exploratory factor analysis and parallel analysis; (3) reliability analysis; (4) confirmatory factor analysis; and (5) convergent and discriminant validity evidence. Unlike the original version of the CMAS, exploratory factor analysis revealed a two-factor internal structure. Comparison of the fit indices for the three models demonstrated that a 19-item two-factor solution was the preferable model. Mathematics anxiety scores at grades 2-4 showed a positive relationship with children’s mathematics anxiety at grades 1-5. Multivariate analyses revealed no significant differences in mathematics anxiety by gender whereas significant differences were found across grade levels. The CMAS-[Nation] is the first cultural adaptation with an older sample and sound psychometric properties supporting future cross-cultural research on mathematics anxiety.
Downloads
References
AERA, APA, & NCME. (1999). Standards for educational and psychological testing. American Educational Research Association.
Authors et al. (2015).
Authors et al. (2011).
Alexander L., & Martray C. (1989). The development of an abbreviated version of the Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 22, 143-150.
Andrews, A., & Brown, J. (2015). The effects of math anxiety. Education, 135(3), 362-370.
Ashcraft, M. H., & Kirk, E. P. (2001). The relationships among working memory, math anxiety, and performance. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 130(2), 224–237. https://doi.org/10.1037/0096-3445.130.2.224
Ashcraft, M. H., & Krause, J. A. (2007). Working memory, math performance, and math anxiety. Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 14(2), 243–248. https://doi.org/10.3758/ bf03194059
Bai, H. (2011). Cross-validating a bidimensional mathematics anxiety scale. Assessment, 18(1), 115-122. https://doi.org/10.1177/1073191110364312
Author & Author (2010).
Baptist, J., Minnie, L., Buksner, S., Kaye, R., & Morgan, J. (2007). Screening in the early years for mathematics difficulties and disabilities: Identifying red flags to support early learners at risk. Orbit, 37, 14–19.
Barroso, C., Ganley, C. M., McGraw, A. L., Geer, E. A., Hart, S. A., & Daucourt, M. C. (2021). A meta-analysis of the relation between math anxiety and math achievement. Psychological Bulletin, 147(2), 134–168. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000307
Bartlett, M. S. (1954). A note on the multiplying factors for various chi square approximation. Journal of Royal Statistical Society, 16(Series B), 296-298.
Author (2005).
Bodas, J., Ollendick, T. H., & Sovani, A. V. (2008). Test anxiety in Indian children: A cross-cultural perspective. Anxiety, Stress, & Coping, 21(4), 387-404. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615800701849902
Byrne, B. M. (2013). Structural equation modeling with Mplus: Basic concepts, applications, and programming. Routledge.
Carey, E., Hill, F., Devine, A., & Szűcs, D. (2017). The modified Abbreviated Math Anxiety Scale: A valid and reliable instrument for use with children. Frontiers in Psychology, 8(11). https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.8377.
Chiu, L., & Henry, L. (1990). Development and validation of the mathematics anxiety scale for children. Measurement and Evaluation in Counseling and Development, 23, 121–127.
Clements, D. H., & Sarama, J. (2009). Learning trajectories in early mathematics–sequences of acquisition and teaching. Encyclopedia of Language and Literacy Development, 7, 1-6.
Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences. Lawrence Earlbaum Associates.
Cohen, J., Cohen, P., West, S. G., & Aiken, L. S. (2003). Applied multiple regression/correlation analysis for the behavioral sciences. Lawrence Erlbaum.
Commodari, E., & La Rosa, V. L. (2021). General academic anxiety and math anxiety in primary school. The impact of math anxiety on calculation skills. Acta Psychologica, 220, 103413. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2021.103413
Crocker, L., & Algina, J. (1986). Introduction to classical and modem test theory. Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
Author & Author (2008).
Dowker, A., Sarkar, A., & Looi, C. Y. (2016). Mathematics anxiety: What have we learned in 60 years? Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 508. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00508
Else-Quest, N. M., Hyde, J. S., & Linn, M. C. (2010). Cross-national patterns of gender differences in mathematics: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 136(1), 103–127. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018053
European Parliament and the Council of European Union (2006, July 15). Official Journal of the European Union, https://www.eumonitor.eu/9353000/1/j9vvik7m1c3gyxp/vitgbgirrhw1.
Fennema, E., & Sherman, J. A. (1976). Fennema-Sherman Mathematics Attitudes Scales: Instruments designed to measure attitudes toward the learning of mathematics by females and males. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 7(5), 324-326. https://doi.org/10.2307/748467
Ganley, C. M., & McGraw, A. L. (2016). The development and validation of a revised version of the Math Anxiety Scale for Young Children. Frontiers in Psychology, 7(1181), 1-18. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01181
Geist, E. (2010). The anti-anxiety curriculum: Combating math anxiety in the classroom. Journal of Instructional Psychology, 37(1), 24-31.
Gunderson, E. A., Park, D., Maloney, E. A., Beilock, S. L., & Levine, S. C. (2018). Reciprocal relations among motivational frameworks, math anxiety, and math achievement in early elementary school. Journal of Cognition and Development, 19(1), 21–46. https://doi.org/10.1080/15248372.2017.1421538
Hair, J. F., Black, W. C., Babin, B. J., Anderson, R. E., & Tatham, R. L. (2006). Multivariate data analysis. Pearson Education.
Hambleton, R. K., Merenda, P. F., & Spielberger, C. D. (2005). Issues, designs, and technical guidelines for adapting tests into multiple languages and cultures. Adapting Educational and Psychological Tests for Cross-Cultural Assessment, 1, 3-38.
Harari, R. R., Vukovic, R. K., & Bailey, S. P. (2013). Mathematics anxiety in young children: An exploratory study. The Journal of Experimental Education, 81(4), 538–555. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220973.2012.727888
Hembree, R. (1990). The nature, effects, and relief of mathematics anxiety. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 21(1), 33-46.
Hopko, D. R., Mahadevan, R., Bare, R. L., & Hunt, M. K. (2003). The abbreviated math anxiety scale (AMAS). Assessment, 10(2), 178–182. https://doi.org/10.1177/ 1073191103010002008
Hu, L.-T., & Bentler, P. M. (1995). Evaluating model fit. In R. H. Hoyle (Ed.), Structural equation modeling: Concepts, issues, and applications (pp. 76–99). Sage Publications, Inc.
Hunt T. E., Clark-Carter D., & Sheffield D. (2011). The development and part validation of a U.K. Scale for mathematics anxiety. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 29, 455-466. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734282910392892
Hyde, J. S. (2005). The gender similarities hypothesis. American psychologist, 60(6), 581-592. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.60.6.581
Jameson, M. M. (2013). The development and validation of the Children’s Anxiety in Math Scale. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 31(4), 391-395. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734282912470131
Kaiser, H. F. (1974). A computational starting point for Rao's canonical factor analysis: Implications for computerized procedures. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 34(3), 691-692.
Author & Author (2016).
Kline, R. B. (2023). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling. Guilford publications.
Krispenz, A., Gort, C., Schültke, L., & Dickhäuser, O. (2019). How to reduce test anxiety and academic procrastination through inquiry of cognitive appraisals: A pilot study investigating the role of academic self-efficacy. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 1-14. https:// doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01917
Lim, S. Y., & Chapman, E. (2013). Development of a short form of the attitudes toward mathematics inventory. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 82(1), 145-164. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10649-012-9414-x
Little, R. J. (1988). A test of missing completely at random for multivariate data with missing values. Journal of the American Statistical Association, 83(404), 1198-1202. https://doi: 10.1080/01621459.1988.10478722
Lukowski, S. L., DiTrapani, J. B., Jeon, M., Wang, Z., Schenker, V. J., Doran, M. M., Hart, S. A., Mazzocco, M. M. M., Willcutt, E. G., Thompson, L. A., & Petrill, S. A. (2019). Multidimensionality in the measurement of math-specific anxiety and its relationship with mathematical performance. Learning and Individual Differences, 70, 228–235. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lindif.2016.07.007
Ma, X. (1999). A meta-analysis of the relationship between anxiety toward mathematics and achievement in mathematics. Journal for Research in Mathematics Education, 30(5), 520-540. https://doi.org/10.2307/749772
Ma, X., & Xu, J. (2004). The causal ordering of mathematics anxiety and mathematics achievement: A longitudinal panel analysis. Journal of Adolescence, 27(2), 165-179. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adolescence.2003.11.003
Merenda, P. F. (2006). An overview of adapting educational and psychological assessment instruments: Past and present. Psychological Reports, 99, 307–314. https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.99.2.307-314
[Ministry of Education]. (2018, August 15).
Author & Author (2018).
Namkung, J., Peng, P., & Lin, X. (2019). The relation between mathematics anxiety and mathematics performance among school-aged students: A meta-analysis. Review of Educational Research, 89(3), 459–496. https://doi.org/10.3102/ 0034654319843494.
Núñez-Peña, M. I., Guilera, G., & Suárez-Pellicioni, M. (2014). The Single-Item Math Anxiety Scale (SIMA): An alternative way of measuring mathematical anxiety. Personality and Individual Differences, 60, S75-S76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2013.07.339
Nunnally J. C. (1978). Psychometric theory (2nd ed.). McGraw-Hill.
Author & Author (2011).
Passolunghi, M. C., De Vita, C., & Pellizzoni, S. (2020). Math anxiety and math achievement: The effects of emotional and math strategy training. Developmental Science, 23(6), e12964. https://doi.org/10.1111/desc.12964
Petronzi, D., Staples, P., Sheffield, D., Hunt, T. E., & Fitton-Wilde, S. (2018, October 17). Further development of the Children's Mathematics Anxiety Scale UK (CMAS-UK) for ages 4–7 years. Retrieved June 14, 2021, from https://psyarxiv.com/w92tf/
Petronzi, D., Staples, P., Sheffield, D., Hunt, T. E., & Fitton-Wilde, S. (2019). Further development of the Children’s Mathematics Anxiety Scale UK (CMAS-UK) for ages 4–7 years. Educational Studies in Mathematics, 100(3), 231-249. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10649-018-9860-1
Plake B. S., Parker C. S. (1982). The development and validation of a revised version of the Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 42, 551-557. https://doi.org/10.1177/001316448204200218
Richardson, F. C., & Suinn, R. M. (1972). The mathematics anxiety rating scale: psychometric data. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 19(6), 551-554. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0033456
Schermelleh-Engel, K., Moosbrugger, H., & Müller, H. (2003). Evaluating the fit of structural equation models: Tests of significance and descriptive goodness-of-fit measures. Methods of Psychological Research Online, 8(2), 23-74.
Shi, Z., & Liu, P. (2016). Worrying thoughts limit working memory capacity in math anxiety. PLoS One, 11(10), e0165644. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pone.0165644
Sorvo, R., Koponen, T., Viholainen, H., Aro, T., Räikkönen, E., Peura, P., Dowker, A., & Aro, M. (2017). Math anxiety and its relationship with basic arithmetic skills among primary school children. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 87(3), 309-327. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjep.12151
Spelke, E. S. (2005). Sex differences in intrinsic aptitude for mathematics and science? A critical review. American Psychologist, 60(9), 950–958. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.60.9.950
Suinn R. M., Taylor S., & Edwards R. W. (1988). Suinn Mathematics Anxiety Rating Scale for Elementary School Students (MARS-E): Psychometric and normative data. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 48(4), 979-986. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013164488484013
Suinn, R. M., & Winston, E. H. (2003). The mathematics anxiety rating scale, a brief version: psychometric data. Psychological Reports, 92(1), 167-173. https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.2003.92.1.167
Tabachnick, B. G., Fidell, L. S., & Ullman, J. B. (2013). Using multivariate statistics. Pearson Education.
van Eerde, W. (2003). A meta-analytically derived nomological network of procrastination. Personality and Individual Differences, 35(6), 1401–1418. https://doi. org/10.1016/s0191-8869(02)00358-6
Vukovic, R. K., Kieffer, M. J., Bailey, S. P., & Harari, R. R. (2013). Mathematics anxiety in young children: Concurrent and longitudinal associations with mathematical performance. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 38(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cedpsych.2012.09.001
Wai, J., Lubinski, D., Benbow, C. P., & Steiger, J. H. (2010). Accomplishment in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and its relation to STEM educational dose: A 25-year longitudinal study. Journal of Educational Psychology, 102(4), 860–871. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0019454
Watkins, M. W. (2000). Monte Carlo PCA for parallel analysis [computer software]. State College, PA: Ed & Psych Associates, 432-442.
Wigfield, A. & Meece, J. L. (1988). Math anxiety in primary and secondary school students. Journal of Educational Psychology, 80(2), 210-216.
Xie, F., Xin, Z., Chen, X., & Zhang, L. (2019). Gender difference of Chinese high school students’ math anxiety: The effects of self-esteem, test anxiety and general anxiety. Sex Roles, 81(3), 235-244. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-018-0982-9
Author & Author (2017).
Zhang, J., Zhao, N., & Kong, Q. P. (2019). The relationship between math anxiety and math performance: A meta-analytic investigation. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 1613. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01613.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Pegem Journal of Education and Instruction

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes.
No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.