Mathematics anxiety of primary school 4th grade students examining the relationship between mathematics achievements and determining the factors that cause math anxiety

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between mathematics anxiety and mathematics achievement of 4th grade students and to determine the factors that cause math anxiety. Mixed method was used in the study. The sample of the study consisted of 636 fourth grade students and 27 students for semi-structured interviews in 14 schools in Erzincan Province in 2018-2019 academic year. The data of the study were collected through the "Mathematics Anxiety Scale" and "Mathematics Anxiety Semi-Structured Interview Form" developed by the researcher. In the analysis of the data obtained within the scope of the research; descriptive statistics, multivariate variance analysis (MANOVA), LSD test statistics, binary comparison techniques, pearson moment product correlation, multiple linear regression analysis and content analysis were used. The findings of the research are summarized as follows; 1. Primary school fourth grade students have high scores on math exam anxiety. On the other hand, it was observed that the scores of mathematics lesson size anxiety were low. 2. It was determined that the fourth, middle, and lower socioeconomic grade primary school students' scores of mathematics exam anxiety were high. On the other hand, it was observed that the scores of mathematics lesson size anxiety were low 3. It is concluded that there is no significant difference between the mean scores of math anxiety in terms of gender variable of fourth grade students in primary school. It was observed that there was no significant difference between the mean scores of mathematics self-efficacy dimension anxiety, mathematics lesson size anxiety and mathematics exam size anxiety in terms of gender variable of primary school fourth grade students. 4. It has been observed that there is a negative relationship between mathematics anxiety levels and mathematics achievement levels of fourth grade students in primary school. In addition, it was concluded that there was a significant relationship between mathematics self-efficacy dimension anxiety and mathematics class size anxiety and mathematics course achievement, but there was no significant relationship between mathematics exam size anxiety and Mathematics course success. 5. It has been observed that the elementary school fourth grade math anxiety levels and Mathematics lesson successes are predicted. In addition, it was seen that fourth grade students of primary school predicted math course size anxiety and math exam size anxiety. On the other hand, it was concluded that elementary school fourth grade students' anxiety of mathematics self-efficacy did not predict the success of mathematics lesson. 6. A significant difference was found between the mean scores of mathematics anxiety levels in terms of mother / father education level variable of fourth grade students in primary school. 7. The factors that cause math anxiety of fourth grade students in primary school; teachers, students, family and friends, lessons and exams. Key Words: Academic Success, Anxiety, Mathematics