Teaching study skills and test-taking strategies to elementary school students. The Testbusters Program.

Full Abstract

A pilot program to reduce test anxiety and related social-evaluative concerns is presented. Testbusters is a program designed specifically for elementary and middle school children in grades 4 through 7 that teaches effective study habits, study skills, and test-taking strategies and includes a behavioral contract to ensure consistent study behavior. The assessment strategy includes self-report instruments, a behavioral assessment, and children's grade point averages. After a 6-month waiting period, eight children with moderate to severe test anxiety participated in the 11-week program. The results indicated that Testbusters decreased general levels of test anxiety and self-ratings of distress when taking a test. Overall grade point average improved significantly and grades in the majority of the subjects showed positive improvement. There was no change in overall self-esteem or judgments of cognitive competence. The results are discussed in terms of the use of a skills strategy to decrease anxiety and improve academic achievement.

Author information

Author/s: Beidel, D C (DC); Turner, S M (SM); Taylor-Ferreira, J C (JC);

Affiliation: University of Maryland, USA.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: Behavior modification (Behav Modif), published in UNITED STATES. (Language: eng)

Reference: 1999-Oct; vol 23 (issue 4) : pp 630-46

Dates: Created 1999/11/12; Completed 1999/11/12; Revised 2004/11/17;

PMID: 10533444, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 2/18/2009)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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