TEST ANXIETY AND PERFORMANCE

ABSTRACT

 The assessment of student learning can be seen as an essential component of evaluating the effectiveness of learning while test anxiety is a major predictor of academic performance. The effects of test anxiety on performance have first been explained by the Yerkes-Dodson law and later by interference and learning-deficit models. In order to get a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of assessment on student’s test anxiety the conservation of resources theory (COR theory; Hobfoll, 1998) is introduced which does not only stress individuals’ perceptions but also takes environmental contingencies into account. More detailed examples of the application of COR theory in the context of different assessment processes on the individual and group level is given. Further, future directions for integrating COR theory into best practice models to enhance students learning development are discussed.

KEYWORDS: test anxiety, performance, conservation of resources theory.

PAGES: 283-293