Assessment of Chemistry Anxiety in a Two-Year College

Bozena Barbara Widanski
Science, Math, and Engineering Division, University of Cincinnati, Clermont College, Batavia, OH 45103
Wanda C. McCarthy
Humanities and Social Sciences Division, University of Cincinnati, Clermont College, Batavia, OH 45103
J. Chem. Educ., 2009, 86 (12), p 1447
DOI: 10.1021/ed086p1447
Publication Date (Web): December 1, 2009

Abstract

Chemistry anxiety encompasses apprehension regarding learning chemistry, evaluation in chemistry courses, and fears about handling chemicals. Our goal was to ascertain the prevalence of these three types of anxiety in college students enrolled in a two-year college. In our sample, chemistry-evaluation provoked the most chemistry anxiety followed by handling-chemicals anxiety and then learning-chemistry. Females reported more anxiety about evaluation than males. Allied health majors reported significantly more fear regarding learning-chemistry than science majors. Participants who had never had chemistry reported higher levels of both learning-chemistry and chemistry-evaluation anxiety. Recognizing the existence of chemistry anxiety is the first step in reducing negative attitudes toward chemistry and perhaps increase student enrollment, success, and retention in chemistry courses.

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  • Received: August 03, 2009

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