Book Description

College students' inability to complete necessary mathematics coursework due to elevated mathematics anxiety levels can hinder degree completion and affect graduation rates. Institutes of higher education should offer students enrolled in a developmental mathematics course opportunities outside of the classroom that potentially lower mathematics anxiety levels and increase self-efficacy levels. The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the correlation between the frequency of visits to a mathematics learning support center and mathematics anxiety levels and self-efficacy among nontraditional developmental mathematics students at a 2-year college in Florida. The study applied Bandura's (1986) social cognitive theory that explains interactions that exist between behavior (mathematics anxiety), personal factors (self-efficacy), and environmental events (learning support centers) as the theoretical framework. I utilized convenience sampling to collect survey data from 16 participants. The data analysis revealed a statistically significant difference between preintervention and postintervention mathematics anxiety levels (p = 0.028) and self-efficacy levels (p = 0.0075). However, a statistically significant correlation did not exist between the frequency of visits to a mathematics learning support center and participant levels of mathematics anxiety (p = 0.241) and self-efficacy (p = 0.850). The study results have implications for current policies by examining the correlation between attendance at learning support centers and developmental mathematics students' mathematics anxiety and self-efficacy levels. Because the sample size was significantly reduced due to COVID-19 restrictions, I suggest future research with a larger sample size should be conducted.