24 International Journal of Knowledge and Systems Science, 3(2), 24-41, April-June 2012
Copyright © 2012, IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. Copyright © 2012, IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited.
Keywords: Critical Least Support, Effcient, Least Association Rules, Mathematics Anxiety, Signifcant
Least Pattern Growth (SLP-Growth)
INTRODUCTION
Anxiety is a psychological and physiological
response to treat a self-concept characterized
by subjective, consciously perceived feelings
of tension (Spielberger & Vagg, 1995, Vi-
tasari, Wahab, Herawan, Sinnadurai, Othman,
& Awang, 2011; Vitasari, Wahab, Herawan,
& Sinnadurai, 2011). Anxious students have
experience of cognitive deficits like misappre-
hension of information or blocking of memory
and recall (Vitasari, Wahab, Herawan, Othman,
& Sinnadurai, 2011). Anxiety response to
mathematics is a significant concern in terms
of the perception that high anxiety will relate
to avoidance of mathematic tasks (Erden &
Akgul, 2010). Mathematics anxiety is one of the
psycho-physiological barriers that students en-
counter when they are performing a mathemat-
ics task (Vitasari, Herawan, Wahab, Othman,
& Sinnadurai, 2010; Vitasari, Wahab, Ahmad,
Herawan, & Sinnadurai, 2010; Vitasari et al.,
Mining Interesting Association
Rules of Students Suffering
Study Anxieties Using
SLP-Growth Algorithm
Tutut Herawan, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Malaysia
Prima Vitasari, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Malaysia
Zailani Abdullah, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Malaysia
ABSTRACT
One of the most popular techniques used in data mining applications is association rules mining. The purpose
of this study is to apply an enhanced association rules mining method, called SLP-Growth (Signifcant Least
Pattern Growth) for capturing interesting rules from students suffering mathematics and examination anxiet-
ies datasets. The datasets were taken from a survey exploring study anxieties among engineering students in
Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP). The results of this research provide useful information for educators to
make decisions on their students more accurately and adapt their teaching strategies accordingly. It also can
assist students in handling their fear of mathematics and examination and increase the quality of learning.
DOI: 10.4018/jkss.2012040102