Production paradigms elicit higher state math anxiety than decision paradigms, particularly for individuals with high trait math anxiety¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · causal r2 · q3
Currency · newest study 2026 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i? State math anxiety is higher in production paradigms than in decision paradigms. → Yao 2026 q3 i? The effect of trait math anxiety on state math anxiety is larger in production than in decision paradigms (paradigm × trait interaction). → Yao 2026 (2)

Evidence¶

Yao 2026¶

Yao, X., Huber, J.F., Li, Z., Findik, Y., Nuerk, H.-C. & Artemenko, C. (2026). The dynamics of state math anxiety vary by paradigm and timing during arithmetic. npj Science of Learning. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-025-00398-z

q3 · i? · causal · r2

LMM (Model A) on state math anxiety in the preregistered study of 65 adults solving two-digit arithmetic in three decision and three production paradigms. The main effect of paradigm was significant (p < .001), "with an estimated increase of 0.29" for production over decision paradigms; conditional R² = .87.

"The main effect of paradigm indicates that state math anxiety is higher in production paradigms compared to decision paradigms, with an estimated increase of 0.29."

Yao 2026 (2)¶

Yao, X., Huber, J.F., Li, Z., Findik, Y., Nuerk, H.-C. & Artemenko, C. (2026). The dynamics of state math anxiety vary by paradigm and timing during arithmetic. npj Science of Learning. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-025-00398-z

q3 · i? · causal · r2

Same LMM (Model A, Table 2) testing the paradigm × trait math anxiety interaction on state math anxiety. The interaction was significant (p < .001), "by an estimate of 0.24", so higher trait math anxiety amplified the production-paradigm increase in state math anxiety.

"The interaction of paradigm and trait math anxiety indicates that the effect of trait math anxiety on state math anxiety is larger in production than in decision paradigms, by an estimate of 0.24."

Discussion¶

Learner Variables¶

• Affect Regulation — moderator: an instructional effect differs with it

Related Claims¶

• Exploratory analyses suggest heightened state math anxiety in production paradigms stems from fear of making mistakes rather than response times — related
• State math anxiety decreases linearly from pre- to post-task, with a stronger decrease for individuals with higher trait math anxiety — related
• State math anxiety decreases across repeated measurement points during the arithmetic task, consistent with habituation — related
• Non-learners show higher state anxiety than learners, but trait anxiety does not differ between groups — related