Research indicates that many students have difficulty with mathematics, which can be
attributed to many factors including math anxiety. Students who experience math anxiety
have poor attitudes towards mathematics and perform below grade level based on class
and statewide assessments. The purpose of this quasi-experimental quantitative study was
to investigate the effectiveness of cooperative groups on the math anxiety levels of Grade
5 male and female students. The theoretical foundation of the study included Vygotsky’s
social learning and Piaget’s concept of knowledge. Thirty-two students from 2 Grade 5
classrooms were administered the pre and post MASC inventory. A repeated-measure
ANOVA was used to compare the overall mean difference for each group. Key results
revealed that students in the treatment group (cooperative grouping) had less math
anxiety after 9 weeks than students involved in the control group (noncooperative
grouping). Females in the treatment group had lower math anxiety scores than the
females in the control group, while males in the treatment group showed no change in
math anxiety levels when compared to males in the control group. A conclusion from this
study suggests that cooperative grouping, especially for females, may have a positive
impact on students’ attitudes and overall mathematics performance. It is recommended
that administrators schedule professional development on cooperative grouping to
implement successful cooperative learning in the classroom. Positive social change could
be realized by teachers incorporating strategies in lessons that promote a positive learning
environment as well as support learning and academic achievement.