Abstract

This study investigated the achievement of psychology students in quantitative disciplines. Achievement was related to attitudes, mathematical skills, and anxiety. Relations among these variables were tested using structural equation modeling analyses. Students enrolled in introductory statistics courses were assessed regarding their attitudes toward statistics at the beginning and at the end of the course, their mathematical knowledge, and their anxiety toward the course and the examinations. Achievement was assessed by tasks assigned during the course, final grades, and failures. Results suggests that background, attitudes and anxiety could help in predicting to statistics achievement.