<p>Disertacija je usmerena na dva glavna istraživačka pitanja: na ispitivanje<br />složenih međuodnosa varijabli relevantnih za fenomen stres-procesa u kontekstu<br />ispitne anksioznosti i na istraživanje gre&scaron;aka u sećanjima na emocije, misli i<br />pona&scaron;anja iz konkretne pro&scaron;le stresne transakcije. Teorijsku bazu rada predstavlja u<br />ovoj studiji revidirana verzija modela Tejlora i Aspinvala (The Taylor and Aspinwall<br />Model, 1996), koji podrazumeva sveobuhvatan i savremen konceptualni okvir za<br />razumevanje komponenti generičkog pojma stresa i njihovih međusobnih relacija.<br />Ovde validirani model obuhvata četiri grupe promenljivih: a) stresor (ispitna<br />anksioznost), b) suočavanje sa stresom (tri kategorije mehanizama prevladavanja:<br />suočavanje usmereno na zadatak, suočavanje usmereno na emocije i izbegavanje), c)<br />karakteristike ličnosti (optimizam i generalna samoefikasnost kao internalni resursi za<br />suočavanje sa stresom, i dve stabilne osobine ličnosti, relevantne za domen<br />akademskog života: perfekcionizam i neuroticizam), i d) izlazne varijable stresprocesa<br />(uspeh postignut na kolokvijumu i emocionalno stanje studenata neposredno<br />nakon ispitne situacije).<br />Istraživanje je sprovedeno na prigodnom uzorku od ukupno 263 studenata,<br />koji pohađaju studije psihologije i germanistike na Filozofskom fakultetu u Novom<br />Sadu. Nacrt istraživanja koncipiran je na način, koji je omogućio prikupljanje<br />podataka u dva distinktivna vremena merenja: neposredno pre i odmah nakon<br />polaganja kolokvijuma, te mesec dana posle ove ispitne situacije. Ispitivanje prostora<br />varijabli stres-procesa obavljeno je primenom sledećih mernih instrumenata: upitnik<br />za procenu ispitne anksioznosti (TAI), inventar za registrovanje načina suočavanja sa<br />kognitivnim zadacima (CITS), upitnik za merenje perfekcionizma (APS-R), skala<br />dispozicionog optimizma (LOT-R), skala generalne samoefikasnosti (GSE), subskala<br />neuroticizma iz &bdquo;Big Five&rdquo; inventara ličnosti i upitnik za procenu pozitivnog i<br />negativnog afektiviteta (SIAB-PANAS).<br />Dobijeni rezultati, koji su proizi&scaron;li iz razmatranja prve grupe istraživačkih<br />pitanja, sugeri&scaron;u da mehanizmi suočavanja usmereni na emocije predstavljaju<br />statistički značajne medijatore relacija, koje postoje između visine izraženosti ispitne<br />anksioznosti, s jedne strane, i uspeha na kolokvijumu i emocionalnog stanja ispitanika<br />neposredno nakon ispitne situacije, s druge strane. Nadalje, u radu su detaljno<br />prikazani i prodiskutovani specifični uslovi, pod kojima određeni nivo razvijenosti ispitivanih moderator varijabli (optimizam, generalna samoefikasnost, neuroticizam i</p><p>tri podvrste perfekcionizma) značajno menja sledeće relacije: a) ispitna anksioznost &ndash;<br />izbor strategija za suočavanje, b) primenjeni mehanizmi prevladavanja &ndash; ishodi<br />ispitivane stresne transakcije i c) direktna veza između stresora i izlaznih varijabli.<br />Prilikom ispitivanja memorijskih distorzija, ustanovljeno je da su studenti<br />generalno skloni naknadnom potcenjivanju jačine sopstvene ispitne anksioznosti, koja<br />je postojala u realnoj situaciji polaganja kolokvijuma, kao i precenjivanju pozitivnih<br />ishodnih emocija. Nalazi takođe sugeri&scaron;u da osobina neuroticizma i uspeh postignut<br />na testu znanja nisu u značajnoj meri delovali na gre&scaron;ke u sećanju na osećanja iz<br />pro&scaron;le stresne transakcije. Na posletku, utvrđeno je da su ispitanici relativno tačno<br />evocirali sećanja na primenjene strategije suočavanja, koje spadaju u kategorije<br />prevladavanja usmerenog na zadatak i izbegavanje, dok su potcenili jačinu i učestalost<br />kori&scaron;ćenja mehanizama suočavanja usmerenih na emocije.</p> / <p>The thesis is focused on two main research issues, as follows: examination of<br />complex interrelationships among variables relevant to the phenomenon of the stressprocess<br />in the context of test anxiety and study of distortions in the memory for<br />emotions, thoughts and behavior in a particular previous stressful transaction. The<br />theoretical basis of the thesis presented in this study is a revised version of the Taylor<br />and Aspinwall model (The Taylor and Aspinwall Model, 1996), which includes a<br />comprehensive and contemporary conceptual framework for understanding the<br />components of a generic phenomenon of the stress concept and their mutual relations.<br />The validated model includes four sets of variables: a) stressor (test anxiety), b)<br />coping (three categories of coping mechanisms: task-focused coping, emotion-focused<br />coping, and avoidance), c) personality traits (optimism and general self-efficacy as<br />internal resources for coping, and two stable personality traits relevant to the domain<br />of academic life: perfectionism and neuroticism), and d) the output variables of the<br />stress-process (success achieved at the colloquium and the emotional state of students<br />immediately after the test situation).<br />The research was carried out on a sample of 263 students of Psychology<br />studies and German Language and Literature studies at the University of Novi Sad.<br />The research design enabled data collection within two distinct times of measurement:<br />immediately before and immediately after passing the colloquium (test), and a month<br />after the test situation. Examination of the stress-process variable space was carried<br />out by application of the following measuring instruments: Test Anxiety Inventory<br />(TAI), Coping Inventory for Task Stress (CITS), The Almost Perfect Scale-Revised<br />(APS-R), Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R), General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE),<br />the neuroticism subscale from the &quot;Big Five&quot; personality inventory, and the Serbian<br />adaptation of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (SIAB-PANAS).<br />The obtained results, which have emerged after reviewing the first set of the<br />research questions, suggest that emotion-focused coping mechanisms are significant<br />mediators of relations, which exist between the intensity of the test anxiety on one<br />hand, and success achieved at the colloquium and the emotional state of subjects<br />immediately after the test situation, on the other hand. Furthermore, the thesis presents<br />in details and discusses specific conditions under which a certain level of the<br />examined moderator variables (optimism, general self-efficacy, neuroticism, and three subtypes of perfectionism) significantly change the following relations: a) test anxiety</p><p>&ndash; a choice of coping strategies, b) applied coping mechanisms - outcomes of the<br />examined stressful transaction and c) a direct relationship between stressors and<br />output variables.<br />When examining memory distortions, it was found that students generally<br />tended to subsequently underestimate the strength of their own test anxiety, which<br />existed in the real situation of taking the test, as well as to overestimate positive<br />outcome emotions. The findings also suggested that the neuroticism trait and the<br />success achieved on the test were statistically not significant for distortions in<br />memory, and feelings from the previous stressful transaction. Finally, it was found<br />that the subjects relatively accurately evoked memories of the applied coping<br />strategies, which fell into the category of the task-focused coping and avoidance, and<br />underestimated the strength and frequency of application of emotion-focused coping<br />mechanisms.</p>

The direct effect of spouse presence during graded exercise testing on anxiety and performance has not been previously delineated. Therefore, the purposes of this study were to (a) ascertain if spouse presence during graded exercise testing affects state anxiety or physiological performance variables, and (b) determine differences in psychological status between cardiac patients and healthy adults.

Submitted by Fernanda Ciolfi (fernanda.ciolfi@puc-campinas.edu.br) on 2016-04-06T18:43:12Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Luiz Ricardo Vieira Gonzaga.pdf: 4978693 bytes, checksum: 22e5218d6daab1bb1914d2919134607a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-06T18:43:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Luiz Ricardo Vieira Gonzaga.pdf: 4978693 bytes, checksum: 22e5218d6daab1bb1914d2919134607a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-24 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior - CAPES / Adolescence is a period of physical, psychological, social and cultural changes, include stressors in the school context as to do academic tests and admission exams for college. To deal with these situations, teenagers present different ways of coping which influence the academic engagement, studying and coping with test anxiety, that affects their academic performance. Therefore, the coping process can be a mediating or moderating variable of the impact of stress on school performance. This research aimed to describe and analyze the relations between academic stressors, test anxiety and its coping and the academic performance of High School students with and without behavior problems, using a developmental and self-regulating approach. Participated 411 students (girls: 59.85%), with 14-20 year olds (M = 16.27; SD=1.04) attending High School on a public school in S?o Paulo?s capital. We applied the following instruments in six classrooms: Brazilian Economic Classification Criteria (Brazilian Criteria), the Test Anxiety Scale (TAS) and Adolescent/Child?s Self Report Responses to Stress ? Academic Problems (RSQ-AS) - both translation processes authorized, the Youth Self-Report (YSR) and the Scale of Coping with Academic Tests, specially developed to access the coping process before, during and after tests. We did these statistical analisis: descriptive, correlations, structural equations modeling and network analysis. Most students had test anxiety (n= 379; 62.53%), girls in particular (n= 227; 66.96%), and n=379; 20.84% demonstrated behavioral problems (Internalizing: n=139; 36.68%; Externalizing: n=69; 18.21%). The student?s average grade in the subject was above five points (M = 6.63; SD=1.18). When facing academic stressors, they reacted with involuntary responses (M = 0.23; SD= 0.04). To deal with tests, the coping process is more adaptive than maladaptive (AC: M = 55.39; SD= 10.60; MAC: M = 41.64; SD=12.80), with ways of coping like Self-reliance, Support-seeking and Problem-solving. Classrooms showed significative differences in socioeconomic status, age groups, number of stressful sources and general average. Structural equation modeling indicates that students with better academic performance were those who had internalizing problems, not externalizing problems, higher adaptive coping score, secondary control engagement coping and involuntary engagement,and whose involuntary disengagement score was lower. Students who experienced test anxiety had higher involuntary engagement and higher number of academic stressors. Students who experienced higher number of academic stressors presented higher primary and secondary control engagement scores, voluntary and involuntary disengagement, and involuntary engagement. The students who had internalizing problems had more test anxiety and higher number of academic stressors. The students who had higher maladaptive coping scores had internalizing problems, test anxiety and higher number of academic stressors. The network analysis also indicated associations between: higher age, higher grades schooling and better academic performance; higher grades schooling and more stress; and low academic performance and academic stressors (not understanding classes or homework, having trouble studying, feeling pressured to do something, and having bad classes or teachers). The behavior problems stand out in this sampling, as well as coping difficulties regarding school events, which referee a psychological intervention in this educational grade. / A adolesc?ncia ? um per?odo de mudan?as f?sicas, psicol?gicas e socioculturais, com muitos estressores, inclusive no contexto escolar, a exemplo da realiza??o de provas acad?micas e o vestibular. Para lidar com essas situa??es, os adolescentes apresentam diferentes estrat?gias de enfrentamento (EE), as quais influenciam o engajamento acad?mico, o comportamento de estudar e de lidar com a ansiedade em situa??es de provas, afetando seu rendimento acad?mico. O enfrentamento (coping), portanto, pode atuar como uma vari?vel moderadora ou mediadora do impacto do estresse sobre o desempenho escolar. Esta pesquisa teve por objetivo descrever e analisar as rela??es entre estressores acad?micos, ansiedade de provas escolares e seu enfrentamento, e o desempenho acad?mico, em alunos do Ensino M?dio, com e sem problemas de comportamento, adotando uma perspectiva desenvolvimentista e de autorregula??o. Participaram 411 alunos (meninas = 59,85%), com 14-20 anos (M = 16,27; DP=1,04), cursando o Ensino M?dio, em uma escola p?blica da capital paulista. Foram aplicados, nas 6 turmas: o Crit?rio de Classifica??o Econ?mica Brasil, o Test Anxiety Scale (TAS) e Adolescent/Child?s Self Report Responses to Stress ? Academic Problems (RSQ-AS), ambos com valida??o lingu?stica autorizada, o Youth Self-Report (YSR), e a Escala de Enfrentamento de Provas Escolares, especialmente elaborada, avaliando o coping antes, durante e depois de provas. Foram feitas an?lises estat?sticas: descritiva, correla??es, modelagem de equa??es estruturais e an?lise de redes. A maioria dos estudantes tinha ansiedade de provas (n= 379; 62,53%), especialmente as meninas (n=227; 66,96%), e n= 379; 20,84% apresentaram problemas de comportamento (Internalizantes: n= 139; 36,68%; Externalizantes: n= 69; 18,21%). A m?dia geral das notas das disciplinas das turmas ficou acima de cinco pontos (M = 6,63; DP= 1,18). Frente a estressores acad?micos, os alunos reagiam com respostas involunt?rias (M = 0,23; DP=0,04). Diante de provas, o coping era mais adaptativo do que mal adaptativo (CA: M = 55,39; DP= 10,60; CMA: M = 41,64; DP=12,80), com EE de autoconfian?a, busca de suporte e resolu??o de problemas. Houve diferen?as significativas entre as s?ries escolares no n?vel socioecon?mico, idade, n?mero de estressores e m?dia geral. As an?lises de equa??es estruturais indicaram que os alunos com maior desempenho acad?mico foram aqueles com problemas internalizantes, sem problemas externalizantes, maior escore de coping adaptativo, engajamento de controle secund?rio e engajamento involunt?rio, e menor escore de desengajamento involunt?rio. Alunos com ansiedade de provas apresentaram maior engajamento involunt?rio e maior n?mero de estressores. Os alunos com maior n?mero de estressores apresentaram maiores escores de engajamento de controle prim?rio e secund?rio, desengajamento volunt?rio e involunt?rio, e engajamento involunt?rio. Os alunos com problemas internalizantes foram aqueles com ansiedade de provas e maior n?mero de estressores. Os alunos com maiores escores de coping mal adaptativo foram aqueles com problemas internalizantes, ansiedade de provas e maior n?mero de estressores. A an?lise de redes indicou tamb?m associa??es entre: maioridade, maior escolaridade e melhor desempenho acad?mico; maior escolaridade e mais estresse; e baixo desempenho e estressores acad?micos (n?o entender as aulas e as tarefas, ter dificuldade para estudar, sentir-se pressionado e ter professores ruins). Os problemas de comportamento se destacaram nesta amostra, assim como as dificuldades de enfrentamento dos eventos escolares, indicando a necessidade de interven??es psicol?gicas nesse n?vel educacional.

Project Independence (PI) is a community college immersion program dedicated to assisting women returning to college. The focus of this study and associated summative evaluation was to understand how the PI program addresses anxiety and other learning deficiencies associated with math. Knowle's andragogical models portray adults as motivated and self-directed, and the American college campus fosters a culture of independence. This culture is foreign to many minority, first-generation, and working class adults who learn through interdependence. This qualitative instrumental case study and evaluation is the first to examine the efficacy of PI. The guiding questions of this study concern early math learning experiences, PI interventions on study, coping and math-learning skills, and how participants utilize these skills in subsequent math classes. Three faculty members and 8 graduates of the program who had completed at least 2 math classes participated in individual interviews. Inductive analysis of these interviews showed the cohort and long term counseling as pivotal to developing a sense of belonging, self-esteem, and an attitude of self-worth. With cohort support, students learn to find campus resources, explore career options, and overcome personal obstacles to their education. Improved math learning for adult minority and first generation students has diverse implications for social change. Math education is requisite for many technical degrees and certificates. Enabling math learning expands options that transcend gender, cultural, and socioeconomic barriers. The cohort experience and culture of interdependence should be expanded to college preparation programs for men, as well as mainstream community college math preparation interventions.

This paper examined the effects of distance priming on test anxiety and judgment. Research suggests that individuals’ perceived distance can impact their affect and judgments, which sheds light on the principle of “distance equals safety” (Williams & Bargh, 2008). Taking an exam invokes both cognitive and emotional anxiety, such as worry, panic, and tension. It is hypothesized that the distance priming may reduce test anxiety—particularly, the emotionality aspect—as well as perceived test difficulty. The results showed that, counter to the hypotheses, there was no significant difference among the three priming groups in their emotional test anxiety or perceived test difficulty. There is a significant correlation between ACT score and cognitive test anxiety, supporting past literature that as one’s intellectual ability increases, their cognitive test anxiety decreases. Further research needs to be conducted to replicate the efficacy of the priming method by Williams and Bargh (2008) and to use more effective ways of provoking performance anxiety.

This study examined motivation, anxiety, global awareness, and linguistic confidence, and their relation to language test performance within the context of Chinese university students taking the College English Test Band 4(CET-4) in China. Using a mixed methods approach, through survey and interview inquiries, this study explored whether and how the selected psychological factors contributed to students’ CET performance. Results from exploratory factor analysis revealed that Chinese university students displayed three types of instrumental motivation (i.e., mark orientation, further-education orientation, and job orientation), two types of anxiety (i.e., language anxiety and test anxiety), and two types of confidence (i.e., linguistic confidence and test confidence). The results of confirmatory factor analysis led to a modified socio-educational model of motivation with some context-specific concepts (i.e., new instrumental orientations, global awareness, and linguistic confidence) that more accurately represented the characteristics of the Chinese university students. The results of structural equation modelling confirmed that attitude toward the learning situation and integrative orientation were two strong indicators of motivation, which in turn influenced language achievement and confidence. The negative impact of anxiety on language achievement was confirmed. Certain group differences were found in comparing male students with female students, high achievers with low achievers, students from the Arts programs with those from the Science programs, and students who started to learn English before Grade 7 with those iii who did so after Grade 7. The interview findings indicated stronger instrumental orientations than integrative orientations. External influences, including influences from society, teachers, and peers, were also identified. Students expressed their mixed feelings toward the CET-4, indicating that this test had both positive and negative influences in promoting their English learning. Testing well-developed motivation and anxiety models in the Chinese context enriched and expanded our knowledge in theory development in English language education in China. The implications of this study point to the importance of understanding language test-takers’ characteristics in their macro and micro learning contexts, as well as the importance of establishing the relevance of English language learning to language teaching, and testing in English as Foreign Language contexts. / Thesis (Ph.D, Education) -- Queen's University, 2009-12-30 22:08:41.138

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2016-02-19T13:21:28Z No. of bitstreams: 1 danielaraujovignoli.pdf: 3447448 bytes, checksum: 832b71d634bfb3b5f8c8cd5182d363e6 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2016-02-26T13:47:21Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 danielaraujovignoli.pdf: 3447448 bytes, checksum: 832b71d634bfb3b5f8c8cd5182d363e6 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-02-26T13:47:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 danielaraujovignoli.pdf: 3447448 bytes, checksum: 832b71d634bfb3b5f8c8cd5182d363e6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-03-18 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Este trabalho é constituído por dois estudos com objetivos distintos acerca do impacto da Ansiedade Face ao Teste e das Autocrenças Acadêmicas no desempenho em avaliações em larga escala. As análises realizadas utilizaram o banco de dados do Programa de Avaliação da Rede Pública de Educação Básica (PROEB) edição de 2011, que avaliou as disciplinas língua portuguesa e matemática no 5º e 9º anos do Ensino Fundamental e 3º ano do Ensino Médio das redes municipais e estaduais de Minas Gerais. O banco de dados contou com 661.011 alunos e 9.920 escolas. Os dois estudos consistiram no aprimoramento de um estudo conduzido no PROEB 2010. No primeiro estudo, foram realizadas várias alterações nas escalas de Ansiedade Face ao Teste (AFT), Autoeficácia Acadêmica (AFA), Autoconceito Acadêmico (ACA) e Percepção de Controle de Resultados (PC). Em seguida, analisou-se o impacto das alterações na qualidade das escalas. Também foi testada a adequação de uma nova configuração de modelo estrutural composto pelas variáveis AFT, AFA, ACA e MTA e por um fator de segunda ordem denominado Autocrenças Acadêmicas. O segundo estudo avaliou o impacto dessas variáveis no desempenho dos alunos através de um modelo linear hierárquico, considerando três níveis: aluno, turma e escola. Os coeficientes de impacto das variáveis do modelo foram comparados com os obtidos na pesquisa realizada no PROEB 2010. Para avaliar as escalas, no primeiro estudo, foram conduzidas análises fatoriais em duas etapas, exploratória e confirmatória. Em seguida, foram realizadas comparações entre o alfa de Cronbach das escalas atual e anterior. O método de rotação utilizado foi Promax. A modelagem de equações estruturais permitiu que a estrutura de fatores encontrada fosse testada e comparada com a estrutura proposta no estudo realizado no PROEB 2010. No segundo estudo, o fator AFT e o fator de segunda ordem, Autocrenças Acadêmicas, tiveram seus escores gerados através da Teoria de Resposta ao Item, modelo de Samegima, e inseridos no modelo linear hierárquico, juntamente com as outras variáveis em análise. Os coeficientes dos modelos lineares hierárquicos de 2010 foram comparados aos coeficientes do presente estudo. Nos resultados do primeiro estudo, a análise fatorial indicou o surgimento de um novo fator, Motivação Acadêmica e a extinção do fator PC. O Alfa de Cronbach das escalas foi superior ao das escalas anteriores, exceto o fator AFA. Os Alfas foram: AFT: 0,842; AFA: 0,793; ACA: 0,911 e MTA: 0,754. Foram produzidos dois modelos estruturais. Um deles utilizou a estrutura de dados proposta do estudo de 2010, porém, com as medidas das novas escalas (esse modelo foi denominado de 2º modelo). O outro modelo utilizou a nova estrutura de dados encontrada na análise fatorial confirmatória e as medidas das escalas produzidas para esse estudo (3º modelo). Tais modelos foram comparados e o 3º modelo demonstrou bons índices de ajuste, superiores aos demais modelos: CFI=0,96; NFI=0,96; RMSEA=0,12 e RMR=0,05. No segundo estudo, a comparação dos coeficientes dos modelos lineares hierárquicos considerou apenas o nível do aluno e se concentrou nas variáveis emocionais. As variáveis AFT e Autocrenças Acadêmicas do presente estudo obtiveram coeficientes superiores às variáveis emocionais do modelo de 2010, principalmente o fator Autocrenças Acadêmicas. Acredita-se que a diferença se deve ao aprimoramento das escalas, que as tornou mais específicas. As variáveis emocionais apresentaram os maiores coeficientes de impacto no desempenho no modelo linear, superiores ao índice socioeconômico e a defasagem escolar, que são tradicionalmente variáveis de grande impacto no desempenho. As consequências do impacto das variáveis emocionais no desempenho são discutidas do ponto de vista psicométrico e educacional. / This work consists of two distinct studies with different objectives about the impact of the Test Anxiety and Academic self-beliefs on performance in large-scale assessments. The analyzes used the database of the Programa de Avaliação da Rede Pública de Educação Básica (PROEB) 2011 edition, which evaluated subjects Portuguese and mathematics at the 5th and 9th years of Elementary Schooll and the last year of High School of municipal and state schools of Minas Gerais.The database included 661,011 students and 9,920 schools. Both studies consisted in the improvement of a study conducted in PROEB 2010.In the first study, several changes in the Test Anxiety Scale (AFT), Academic Self-Efficacy Scale (AFA), Academic Self-Concept Scale (ACA) and Perceived Control Results Scale (PC) were performed.Then we analyzed the impact of changes in the quality of the scales. Also tested the suitability of a new structural model configuration consisted by the variables AFT, APA, ACA and MTA and a second-order factor named Academic self-beliefs.The second study assessed the impact of these variables on student performance through a hierarchical linear model, considering three levels: student, class and school. The impact coefficients of the variables of the model were compared with those obtained in research conducted in PROEB 2010.In the first study, to evaluate of the scales, a factor analyzes were conducted in two stages, exploratory and confirmatory. Then, comparisons between Cronbach's alpha of the current scale and the previous one were performed.The method used was Promax rotation. The structural equation modeling allowed that the structure of factors found were tested and compared with the structure of factors found in the study conducted in PROEB in 2010.In the second study, the AFT factor and second-order factor, Academic self-beliefs, had their scores generated by the Item Response Theory, model Samegima, and entered into the hierarchical linear model, along with the other variables in the analysis.The coefficients of hierarchical linear models of 2010 were compared to the coefficients of the present study. The results of the first study, shown the emergence of a new factor, Academic Motivation and the demise of the PC factor.The Cronbach's alpha of the scales was higher than the previous scales, except the AFA factor. Alphas were: AFT: 0.842; AFA: 0.793; ACA: MTA and 0.911: 0.754. Two structural models were produced. One of them used the data structure proposed in the 2010 study, however, the measures of the new scales (this model was called the 2nd model).The other model used the new data structure found in the confirmatory factor analysis and measures of the scales produced for this study (model 3). These models were compared and the 3rd model demonstrated good fit, superior to other models: CFI = 0.96; NFI = 0.96; RMSEA = 0.12 and RMR = 0.05.In the second study, the analisys was made by the comparison of coefficients of hierarchical linear models, considering only the level of the student and was focused only on emotional variables. The coeficients of the variables, AFT and Academic self-beliefs of this study were higher than coefficients to emotional variables in the 2010 model, especially the academic selfbeliefs factor.It is believed that the difference is due to the improvement of scales, which become more specific. The emotional variables had the greatest impact on performance coefficients in the linear model, higher then socioeconomic index and school delay, variables that are traditionally knowed as a varialble of large impact on performance . The consequences of the impact of emotional variables on performance are discussed from the point of psychometric and educational standpoint.

This research is important because it has identified a gap in the existing knowledge base. A term is therefore coined to label a computer-based test mode effect, the so-called Item Randomisation Effect, discussed in detail in this thesis. Item Randomisation Effect is a test mode effect occurring in computer-based testing contexts, especially noticeable in test-takers that may be susceptible to test anxiety. The practise of randomising multiple choice items in computer-based test venues is commonplace, mainly as a deterrent for cheating. Previous research attempted to determine the degree of equivalence across testing modalities of any test. The need was to ensure test-takers in paper-based tests would not have an advantage/disadvantage over test-takers given the same test in a computer-based mode. Such studies have a nomothetic perspective. This research contrasts with those earlier studies in that it has an ideographic perspective because it is concerned with the performance of individuals taking any test in the computer-based modality. This subtle difference in perspective may account for the apparent gap in the existing educational research literature. Evidence of Item Randomisation Effect was found in this study but further research into this test mode effect is necessary. / Dissertation (MEd (Computer-Integrated Education))--University of Pretoria, 2008. / Curriculum Studies / unrestricted

Background: Based on the assumptions that depersonalization symptoms are relevant for test anxiety maintenance, we examined their frequency, psychological predictors, association with anxiety symptoms, and association with test performance. Sampling and Methods: In Study 1, 203 students rated their test anxiety severity and depersonalization in their last oral examination. In Study 2, we assessed test anxiety 1 week before an oral examination, depersonalization, safety behaviors, self-focused attention, and negative appraisals of depersonalization directly after the examination, and post-event processing 1 week later among 67 students. Results: In Study 1, 47.3% reported at least one moderate depersonalization symptom. In Study 2, test anxiety and negative appraisals of depersonalization significantly predicted depersonalization. Depersonalization was linked to a higher intensity of safety behaviors and post-event processing but not to self-focused attention. It was not related to performance. Conclusion: Results are limited by the non-random sampling and the small sample size of Study 2. However, by showing that depersonalization contributes to the processes the maintenance of test anxiety, the findings confirm that depersonalization – normally understood as an adaptive mechanism to cope with stressful events – can become maladaptive.

No description available.