‘I know the type of people I work well with’: student anxiety in multicultural group projects

Abstract

Research indicates that the uncertainty created when students are required to work in groups for assessed projects induces anxiety, which can manifest itself both cognitively and affectively. Such anxiety may influence student attitudes towards the selection and formation of the groups. This study explored whether different methods of group formation impact on student anxiety levels and, in addition, whether the home language of the students is associated with the different levels of anxiety. In this study, 165 first-year tertiary students were surveyed before and after completion of assessed group projects. The findings reveal that the uncertainty profile produced different levels of anxiety.