Effect of Cognitive Restructuring and Systematic Desensitization in the Management of Mathophobia among Secondary School Students in Khana L.G.A of Rivers State, Nigeria

Ernest-Ehibudu Ijeoma Regina^1, and Wayii Augustine Lezorgia¹

¹Department of Educational Psychology, Guidance and Counselling University of Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Cite this paper:
Ernest-Ehibudu Ijeoma Regina and Wayii Augustine Lezorgia. Effect of Cognitive Restructuring and Systematic Desensitization in the Management of Mathophobia among Secondary School Students in Khana L.G.A of Rivers State, Nigeria. American Journal of Educational Research. 2017; 5(11):1131-1137. doi: 10.12691/education-5-11-3

Abstract

This study was conducted to test the effect of cognitive restructuring and systematic desensitization in the management of mathophobia (that is, Mathematics anxiety) among secondary school students in Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. Five research questions and five null hypotheses were formulated for testing at 0.05 level of significance to guide the study. In executing the study, the pre-test, post-test, and control group experimental research design was adopted using a randomized sample of 120 mathophobic SS2 students drawn from three public secondary schools. The researchers developed an instrument titled “Mathematics Diagnostic Questionnaire” (MDQ) which was adequately assessed for validity and reliability and was used in collecting pre-test and post-test data for the cognitive restructuring, systematic desensitization and control group. Each group received only one type of treatment, with the exception of the control group that received a placebo treatment. Follow-up assessment was conducted after an interval of four weeks after post-test. Data analysis was done using mean, and standard deviation for the research questions, while independent samples and paired sample t-test were used for the hypotheses. The result obtained showed that both cognitive restructuring and systematic desensitization were significantly effective in the management of mathophobia among secondary school students, with systematic desensitization having a greater effect than cognitive restructuring. Also obtained was the fact even after post-test, no statistical difference was obtained for both group. Based on this result, it was recommended that counsellors should not limit themselves to only one technique in handling mathophobic students rather, they should employ eclectic model in counselling.

Keywords:
cognitive restructuring systematic desensitization mathophobia behaviour modification

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References:

[1]	Antoni, M. H. (2003). Rational thought replacement. Washington, D. C: APA.
[2]	Ashcraft, M. H. (2002). Math anxiety: personal, educational and cognitive consequences. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 11, 181-185.
[3]	Asikhia, O. A. (2014). Effect of cognitive restructuring on the reduction of mathematics anxiety among senior secondary school students in Ogun State, Nigeria. International Journal of Education and Research, 2(2), 1-20.
[4]	Bakare, A. (1977). Study habits inventory. (SHI) Manual Psycho-educational Research Production. Ibadan: University Press.
[5]	Bamidele, R. (2005). Mathematics not a dreadful subject. Daily Sun Newspaper, August, 30:22.
[6]	Barer, D. D. (1968). A case of desensitization of tutoring therapy.Exceptional Child, 34, 386-387.
[7]	DiBartolo, P. M., Frost, R.O., Dixon, A. & Almodovar, S. (2001). Can cognitive restructuring reduce the disruption associated with perfectionist concerns .Behaviour Therapy, 32 (1), 167-184.
[8]	Gladding, S. (2009). Counselling: A comprehensive review. 6th Columbus: Pearson Education Inc.
[9]	Harms, W. (2012). When people worry about math, the brain feels the pain. UChicago News. The University of Chicago 31, October, 2012, web 17, October, 2017.
[10]	Kleinknect R.A. (1986). The anxious staff, diagnosis and treatment of fears and phobia: New York: Human Science Press, Inc.
[11]	Kpolovie, P. J. (2010). Advanced research methods. Springfield Publishers Ltd: Owerri.
[12]	McLeod, S.A. (2015). Systemaic desensitization. Retrieved from www.simplypsychology.org/Systematic-Desensitization.html.
[13]	Okoiye, O. E., & Falaye, A. (2011). Effectiveness of Cognitive and Group Behaviour Therapies in Managing Examination Anxiety among Academically-At-Risk Secondary School Students in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria: Journal of Research in Education and Society, 2,2.
[14]	Otta, F.E., & Ogazie, C.A. (2014). Effects of systematic desensitization and study Behaviour Techniques on the Reduction of Test Phobia among In-School Adolescents in Abia State. World Journal of Educational Research Vol. 1, No. 3, August 2014, pp. 1-7.
[15]	Perry, A.B. (2004). Decreasing math anxiety in college students. College Student Journal, 38(2), 19-20.
[16]	Ryan, C.M. & Eric, R.D.. (2005). Cognitive emotion regulation in the prediction of depression,anxiety, stress and anger. Personality and Individual Differences, 30, 1249-1260.
[17]	Schar, M.H. & Kirk, E.P. (2001). The relationships among working memory, math anxiety and performance. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 130: 224-237.
[18]	Ventis, W.L., Higbee, G., & Murdock, S.A. (2001) Using humor in systematic desensitization to reduce fear.  The Journal of General Psychology, 128(2), 241-253.