Journal of Korean Elementary Science Education (한국초등과학교육학회지:초등과학교육)

The Korean Elementary Science Education Society (한국초등과학교육학회)
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Moderating Role of Perceived Task Difficulty in Arousing State Anxiety When Confronting Science Questions

과학 문제 대면 상황에서 상태불안이 유발될 때 학생이 인지한 과제난이도의 조절효과

  • Received : 2023.10.16
  • Accepted : 2023.11.07
  • Published : 2023.11.30
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Abstract

There is a lack of empirical research on the level of students' state anxiety according to their perceived task difficulty when confronting science questions. This study seeks to investigate whether perceived task difficulty moderates the process of arousing students' state anxiety in science learning. In pursuit of this objective, we engaged 410 fifth- and sixth-grade elementary school students (186 fifth graders; 194 females) in solving two science questions. We then verified the moderating effect of perceived task difficulty on the relationship between science anxiety and state anxiety arousal when confronting science questions using the PROCESS Macro Model 1. Results confirmed that science anxiety and perceived task difficulty significantly and positively predicted state anxiety. Notably, perceived task difficulty had a significant moderating effect on the process of arousing state anxiety, where lower perceived task difficulty led to a greater increase in state anxiety after confronting the science questions. We discuss the implications of the findings for science education and propose potential directions for future research.

과학 문제를 대면했을 때 학생들이 인지하는 과제난이도에 따른 학생이 느끼는 상태불안 수준에 대한 실증적인 연구는 부족하다. 본 연구의 목적은 학생들이 과학 문제를 대면했을 때 학생이 인지한 과제 난이도가 과학불안과 상태불안의 관계를 조절하는지 검증하는 것이다. 이를 위하여 초등학생 5~6학년 410명(5학년 186명; 여학생 194명)을 대상으로 2개의 과학 문제를 제시하였다. 그리고 PROCESS macro 1번 모델을 활용하여 과학 문제 대면 상황에서 과학불안과 상태불안 유발 사이의 관계에서 학생이 인지한 과제난이도의 조절 효과를 검증하였다. 분석 결과, 학생의 과학불안 수준과 학생이 인지한 과제난이도는 상태불안을 정적으로 유의하게 예측하였다. 그리고 학생이 인지한 과제난이도는 학생이 문제를 대면했을 때 유발되는 상태불안 수준을 부적으로 유의하게 조절하였다. 즉, 학생이 문제를 어렵다고 생각할수록 상태불안 유발에 대한 과학불안의 영향력이 낮아졌으며, 학생이 문제를 쉽다고 생각하면 상태불안 유발에 대한 과학불안의 영향력이 높아졌다. 이러한 연구 결과를 바탕으로 과학교육 및 향후 연구 방향에 대한 시사점을 논의하였다.

Keywords

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