Date of Award

Spring 2026

Degree Type

Honors College Thesis

Academic Program

Psychology BS

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Dr. Emily DeFouw

Advisor Department

Psychology

Abstract

This study utilized a brief experimental analysis (BEA) to examine the effects of taped problems (TP) alone and in combination with brief therapeutic interventions on math fact fluency and math anxiety in elementary-aged students with language disorders. Math anxiety was assessed pre- and post-intervention using the Early Elementary School Abbreviated Math Anxiety Scale (EES-AMAS), a standardized measure for examining math anxiety levels in young students, and math fact fluency was measured using 2-minute Curriculum-Based Measurement (CBM) probes. Results indicated that TP-only was associated with improvements in digits correct per minute (DCPM) for most participants; further, the addition of therapeutic interventions did not consistently produce significant gains in math fact fluency. Changes in math anxiety were minimal, which may have been influenced by relatively low baseline math anxiety levels among participants. Overall, findings suggest that while TP may be an effective intervention for improving math fact fluency in some students with language disorders, the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions may vary across individuals. These results highlight the importance of individualizing intervention selection for students with language disorders and the need for further research examining the relationship between math anxiety and academic performance in this population.

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