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

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.

cognitive restructuring, systematic desensitization, mathophobia, behaviour modification