Examining Dependence of Mathematical Anxiety and Peer Pressure on Mathematical Achievement of Secondary School Students

There are many psychological factors like psychological capital, peer pressure, intelligence, mathematical anxiety, motivation, concentration, and academic stress on which mathematical achievement of secondary school students may depend. Among these, mathematical anxiety is an important factor which can badly affect the students’ performance in mathematics. Peer pressure can also influence the mathematical achievement of a student positively or negatively. In the present study, we have studied the effect of mathematical anxiety and peer pressure on the mathematical achievement of secondary school students. The statistical analysis has been performed by calculating the means, standard deviations, t-values and F-ratios.  The comparison and analysis have been made on the basis of gender and demographic area. Upon analysis, significant differences between mathematical achievement, mathematical anxiety and peer pressure of male and female as well as rural and urban secondary school students have been observed. Analyzing F-ratios, it is found that a particular combination of Gender and Demographic area has a significant interaction effect on mathematical achievement, mathematical anxiety and peer pressure of secondary school students. The study is quite useful for determining the various factors to improve the mathematical achievement of secondary school students.