Prior mathematics performance, statistics anxiety, self-efficacy and expectations for performance in statistics: A survey of social sciences students in a Caribbean institution of higher education

Abstract

The objectives of this study were to examine (i) the expectation for performance (EFP) in statistics of first year university students, (ii) the relative effect of previous mathematics performance (PMP), perceived statistical self-efficacy (SSE), and statistics anxiety (SA) for understanding these expectations, and (iii) whether students’ EFP scores differ based on sex and academic discipline. Findings point to average to high EFP in statistics, with no differences in these levels based on sex or academic discipline. PMP had little effect on students’ EFP, but, moderate effects on their levels of SA. While SSE positively affected both students’ SA, this measure produced a negative effect on their EFP in statistics. Both SSE and SA negatively affected students’ EFP in statistics, but with minimally higher levels for the latter.