Stress, Anxiety, and Cognitive Interference: Reactions to Tests.

Abstract

Test anxiety, its nature and relationships to performance and cognitive interference, are analyzed from the standpoint of attentional processes. A new instrument to assess dimensions of reactions to tests is presented, and its psychometric properties are described. The scales of the Reactions to Tests questionnaire (Worry, Tension, Test-irrelevant Thinking, Bodily Symptoms) were compared with regard to intellective performance and cognitive interference. The results were consistent with the idea that the problem of anxiety is, to a significant extent, a problem of intrusive thoughts that interfere with task-focused thinking. In the last of the three studies reported, it was shown that self-preoccupying intrusive thinking can be reduced by means of a task-focusing experimental condition. The studies suggest that the Reactions to Tests questionnaire may be useful in defining anxiety more sharply and improving understanding of how it relates to performance. (Author)

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Apr 01, 1982
Accession Number
ADA113564

Entities

People

  • Irwin G. Sarason

Organizations

  • University of Washington

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Behavioral Sciences
  • Business Administration
  • Education
  • Educational Psychology
  • Health Services
  • Human Resources
  • Information Processing
  • Military Research
  • Naval Operations
  • Personnel Management
  • Psychology
  • Social Psychology
  • Students
  • Test And Evaluation
  • United States Government
  • Uss Carl Vinson

Fields of Study

  • Psychology

Readers

  • Educational Psychology
  • Psychological Intervention/Treatment for Stress, Anxiety, PTSD, and Related Emotional and Cognitive Health Symptoms.
  • Psychometric Testing or Psychological Assessment.