Introduction

The inspiration for this project came from our very own classrooms  where we observed a common theme: even people who are amazing at mathematics have feelings of anxiety towards this subject. This observation made us curious, so we simply had to dive deeper into the topic of causes of math anxiety and finding different ways to reduce it . Thus, our project was born.

Our big question is " Which style of meditation helps reduce the amount of math anxiety we get before doing a few math exercises?." The study includes three groups of 10 subjects each: one practicing mindfulness meditation, another without meditation, and a third following a movement meditation video. All groups undergo initial health interviews, resting heart rate measurements, and a 5-minute test with 100 one-digit math questions while monitoring heart rates. We will use the test scores, the heart rate measurements during the math test, and the results from a quick survey to determine our conclusions.

Hypothesis

We think the group doing movement meditation will do the best (with lower heart rates and less anxiety). Here's why: we tend to have short attention spans, especially in 5th and 6th grade as we can only focus for about 20-30 minutes. By moving around during meditation instead of sitting still, it's easier for us to stay interested and have fun. This is something that mindfulness meditation usually doesn't offer. Also, light exercise can offer many benefits such as anxiety reduction, enhanced thinking, a stronger memory, and emotional well-being. This is why we believe that movement meditation will have the best results. 

We believe that the mindfulness meditation group will yield the second-best results. By embracing mindfulness meditation, we aim to release judgmental thoughts about ourselves and others, fostering an environment conducive to reduced anxiety during the math test.

Contrastingly, we anticipate that the group not practicing any meditation at all will experience less favorable outcomes due to the absence of the benefits associated with both movement and mindfulness meditation which we explained in the previous two paragraphs.

In summary, our research leads us to the conclusion that movement meditation will likely yield the most favorable results, followed by mindfulness meditation in second place, while the absence of meditation may result in the worst outcome.

 

 

Background research

 Math Anxiety 

Mathematics anxiety is a negative reaction to mathematics. This condition can be a mild tension or a strong fear of numbers. In the UK two-six % of secondary school level people suffer from extreme math anxiety. Not everyone suffers from math trauma, but most people suffer from more mild levels of it (twenty% of the population) Math anxiety does not only occur in classrooms, but also appears when you have to apply math in real life situations. Also, math anxiety only applies to mathematical areas, not just taking tests. 

"It is unlike in this regard as there are not many widespread conditions for other specific content areas such as reading, writing or history".

Contrary to what many people think, feeling anxious about math might actually make you worse at it, rather than the other way around. Psychologists say this happens because anxiety uses up a mental resource called working memory. Working memory is important for taking in and dealing with information needed to do tasks well. When anxiety fills up your working memory with worries about solving math problems, it takes away the mental resources you need to handle math challenges effectively. This shows how feelings and thinking are connected, highlighting the importance of a well-rounded approach to dealing with and reducing anxiety about math.

The symptoms of math anxiety include intense worry, or panic, tense muscles, increased heart rate, sweaty palms, or  even headaches. Another symptom of math anxiety is memory loss. We found this out when we were doing our research last year for our previous science fair project.

"Stress can also interfere with attention and concentration, which are essential for encoding new information into memory. Additionally, high levels of stress can lead to feelings of anxiety and depression, which can further impair memory".   

In conclusion, math anxiety is a fear of solving math problems . Its not a medical condition, but a way of describing anxiety that occurs in a specific situation.

 

 

Heart Rate

A resting heart rate is when your heart pumps the minimal amount of blood that the body needs. This happens when you are at rest. Here is a table that shows the average resting heart rate for adults. The table is based on age.

Age Range (In Years)	Average Resting Heart Rate
18-20	81.6 bpm
21-30	80.2 bpm
31-40	78.5 bpm
41-50	75.3 bpm
51-60	73.9 bpm
61-70	73.0 bpm
71-80	74.2 bpm
80+	78.1 bpm

Here is a table for kids.

Age	Waking Resting Heart Rate
Newborn- 3 months	80-160 bpm
3 months- 2 years	75-160 bpm
2 years- 10 years	60 - 90 bpm
Over 10 years	50-90 bpm

Along with age there are a few other factors that can affect your resting heart rate. This includes temperature, pain, medication side effects, stress and anxiety, weight, body positioning, strenuous physical activity, anemia (lack of red blood cells) hyperthyroidism, addictive substances, and smoking side effects. 

You can estimate an adult's maximum heart rate by subtracting your age (in years) by 220.

 

Types of Meditation

Mindfulness Meditation

"Mindfulness meditation" is a special way of focusing your mind that you might see in health magazines. To get what it means, you first need to understand regular meditation and what "mindfulness" is. Meditation usually involves sitting quietly and thinking about one thing. Mindfulness meditation takes it a step further, making you pay close attention to your own thoughts and what's happening around you without being hard on yourself.

So, when people ask, "What is mindfulness meditation?" they're usually wondering about its perks. Studies say it can help handle stress, lift your mood, make your immune system stronger, and help you manage your feelings better. Even if you only spend 10-15 minutes on it each day, it can make a big difference. In our busy lives, where we're often doing many things at once, mindfulness meditation is praised for bringing us back to the current moment.

To give it a go, find a quiet spot without distractions. Sit comfortably, close your eyes, and focus on your breath and what's around you. Let thoughts come and go without getting too caught up in them. Pretend you're an observer, just calmly watching everything without judging.

Mindfulness meditation also encourages letting go of the ego – thinking everything is about "me" or "mine." It works in three steps: first, noticing what's around you, then paying attention to your body, and finally, watching your thoughts and feelings. The good feelings you get from mindfulness meditation stick around even after you're done meditating, shaping how you see life and deal with different situations. 

 

Movement Meditation!

 

Mindfulness Meditation is awesome, but not everyone can chill out and focus on their breath. That's where movement meditation comes into play—it's like an easier, more active way to get those good vibes.

Instead of just sitting, movement meditation is about doing slow and careful moves in different positions. It's like paying super close attention to your body and what's going on around you while you're moving.

Remember that cool feeling on the beach when you're playing with sand? Movement meditation lets you keep that focus while you're up and moving around. It's not about striking specific poses; it's about moving slowly on purpose while staying in the moment. Here's a step-by-step guide to give it a go:

• Get comfy and sync your breath with your body.
• Put your hands on your body, really feeling your breath.
• Stand up nice and slow, checking out how your body changes.
• If something feels weird, either fix it or just notice it.
• Go through each part of your body, from the of your head to your toes, feeling all the sensations.
• Try some arm moves, like reaching for an imaginary fruit, paying attention to each little move.
• Walk around, paying attention to how your feet, legs, hips, and stomach feel with each step.
• Sit back down and pay attention to your body crunching and bending, syncing up your breath again.

This is just one way to do movement meditation. You can mix it up by touching things, dancing, or doing your regular tasks with a mindful twist. If sitting still is a bit too tricky for you during meditation, movement meditation is your jam—it helps you concentrate, chill out, and stay focused. With practice, you'll get more tuned in to your body, notice any health issues, and be way more in the moment with what's happening around you and the people you're with. 

Meditation Videos

Mindfulness Meditation Video Summary

To calm down, first assemble yourself in a comfortable space, and start thinking about exposing yourself for your wellbeing, your mind. Listen to the calm music and close your eyes leaving all the hard emotions and memories for now. Breathe in air and exhale it, but be sure to not tense your muscles. Proceed to let all the negative harmful emotions leave your body as you exhale. Think of how you created a good reality for not just others but for yourself as well. Think this: "My decisions today will define my tomorrow". As you hold that thought be aware that you are capable of love, peace, happiness and gratitude. Slowly open your eyes and return your attention to the present moment.  

Movement Meditation Video Summary

Let's start by standing with your feet comfortably apart and your hands together in front of your chest. Take a deep breath in as you lift your arms up, and breathe out as you bring your palms together in front of your heart. Keep doing this, feeling your feet on the ground. Next, put your hands by your waist with your palms facing up, and bend your knees. Inhale as you raise your hands up towards your chest, and exhale as you bend your knees again. Keep going with this, focusing on the energy moving up from your feet to your chest. Now, let's try some side-to-side movements. Step to the side as you breathe in, and shift your weight as you breathe out. Feel free to move however feels right for you, while still feeling that energy flowing through your body. Relax and let yourself move naturally, without needing lots of instructions. Come back to the middle, raise your hands to your chest as you breathe in, and then breathe out, bending your knees and feeling grounded. Inhale, connect with your center, and exhale as you stretch your arms up overhead and bring your palms together. Repeat this a few times and notice how your body feels. Think of this meditation as something you can come back to whenever you want. You can change it up by adding music or adjustinghow long you do it for. Finally, bring your hands to your forehead, then down to your heart. Thanks for joining in, and peace and blessings to you.

Additional Information

Physical Activity

Regular physical activity is crucial for overall health, benefiting brain health, weight management, disease prevention, and muscle and bone strength. Regardless of age, abilities, or size, everyone can experience the positive effects of physical activity. 

Engaging in regular physical activity offers many benefits like, enhancing thinking, learning, problem-solving, and emotional well-being. It contributes to improved memory and reduces feelings of anxiety and depression. Furthermore, physical activity plays a crucial role in reducing the risk of not able to develope skills such as dementia. Thus, incorporating physical activity into daily routines not only promotes mental clarity and emotional balance but also serves as a protective measure against being unable to learn or care for them selves and age-related conditions like dementia.

Attention Span

Attention span is the duration an individual can concentrate on a specific task. A general guideline suggests an attention span of  two-three minutes per year of age for children. Factors such as hunger, interest, environment, and distractions play a role in determining a child's attention span, which can vary from one child to another.

At ages eight-ten , children have an average attention span of 20–30 minutes, reflecting increased mental development. Teenagers' attention spans vary, with an average of twenty-four to thirty-four minutes, influenced by personal interests. 

 

Analysis

When you're getting into meditation, there are all sorts of things you can try out to make it work for you. Different teachers or methods might throw in other factors, but here are some basics you'll probably come across:

1. Focused Attention: This is all about zoning in. You pick something - could be an object, a sound, your breath - and you stick with it. It's like giving your brain a break from all the usual noise and stress.
2. Quiet Environment: Beginners usually like a peaceful spot to meditate. No distractions like TV or phones buzzing around. But once you get the hang of it, you can meditate anywhere - even in the middle of a crazy day.
3. Comfortable Position: You can meditate sitting, lying down, walking - whatever floats your boat. Just find a comfy position and try to keep good posture. Nobody's keeping score here; it's all about what feels good for you.
4. Chill Mindset: Meditation isn't about ticking off achievements. It's more like a journey. Don't sweat it if your mind keeps wandering. Just gently bring it back to whatever you're focusing on.
5. Focus, not Emptying: You don't have to clear your mind or fight your thoughts. It's more about noticing your thoughts without getting tangled up in them. Just gently guide your mind back when it goes off track.

And why is focus so important in meditation? 

1. Essential for Good Meditation: If you can't concentrate, meditation's not gonna work its magic. You need that laser-sharp focus to get into the zone.
2. Time Saver: Lose focus, lose time. Keeping your mind on track means you get the most out of your meditation session without drifting off into daydream land.
3. Clears Mental Clutter: Focus is like a mental mop, sweeping away all those distracting thoughts and leaving you with a clear headspace.
4. Fights Distractions: Ever tried meditating and suddenly remembered you forgot to buy milk? Focus helps you push past those pesky distractions.
5. Inner Peace: Ultimately, concentration leads to that inner peace we're all chasing. It's like flipping a switch to a calmer, more centered you.

 

 Focus is essential for meditation. Master it, and you're well on your way to becoming a meditation master.

So, let's dive into the research to answer our big question. Let's start with mindfulness meditation.

Now, why bother with this type of meditation? Well, besides the usual benefits like chilling you out, giving you more self-control, and helping you concentrate, this one falls under what science calls Open Awareness Meditations. It's all about getting in touch with your thoughts and feelings.

And here's the cool part: studies show that it boosts your creativity. If you're all about brainstorming wild ideas or finding solutions to problems, this could be your jam.

Plus, it's like mental decluttering. You learn to let go of those pesky negative thoughts that bug you all day long. Instead of getting tangled up in them, you just acknowledge them and send them packing, which saves you from going down the rabbit hole of overthinking and feeling crummy.

Now, who should give this a shot? Well, I used to say everyone should try it, but I've learned it's not a one-size-fits-all deal. If you tend to overanalyze everything or meditation is totally new to you, starting with mindfulness breathing might feel like climbing Mount Everest.

But if you're keen on dialing down those negative thoughts and unlocking your inner creativity, this could be the ticket for you.

So, now let's move on to movement meditation

Why bother with this? Who's it for? This meditation's awesome if you struggle to sit still. Maybe you've got health issues that make it tough, or you're just naturally antsy. Well, I think the coolest thing about moving meditation is that you don't have to be super focused to do it. That's something special about it..

But, here's the catch: it can be tricky to really zone out when you're moving because you're multitasking. We have never been good at that because then we tend to focus on only one of the things you're trying to do. It's not as easy to reach that super deep meditative state since you're  juggling tasks.

Both of these types of meditation are great. However it really depends on the person. Just remember that any meditation is better than no meditation as long as you stay focused.

 

Manipulated Variable:

The independent variable in this study is the type of meditation practiced by the participants. There are three levels of this variable: movement meditation, mindfulness meditation, and no meditation at all. Each participant will be assigned to one of these three groups.

Responding Variables:

1. Heart rate: The dependent variable includes the heart rate of the participants, measured during the 5-minute math test. We learned that the higher the heart rate of an individual is, the higher the anxiety levels.
2. Test scores: Another dependent variable is the performance of the participants on the math test. This will be measured by the number of correct answers given within the given time frame. Lower scores indicate higher levels of math anxiety. We learned this when we were doing our background research. However the test score can be influenced by many other factors so we won't rely on these results as much as the other 2 ones.
3. Survey results: The responses collected from the participants through a survey will also serve as dependent variables. The survey will include questions about their perceived anxiety levels before and after the math test, as well as their subjective experiences with the meditation techniques.

Controlled Variables:

1. Amount and difficulty of questions on the test: To ensure consistency across groups, all participants will receive the same 100 one-digit multiplication test.
2. Time given to complete the test: Each participant will have exactly 5 minutes to complete the math test, controlling for any potential time-related confounds.
3. Time to do meditation: All participants will be allocated the same amount of time for meditation, which is set at 10 minutes. This consistency ensures that the duration of meditation does not influence the results.
4. Time to record resting heart rate: The time allocated to record resting heart rates will be standardized across all participants to ensure uniformity in data collection procedures.
5. Background noise: The testing environment will be controlled to minimize background noise, which could otherwise interfere with participants' concentration and heart rate measurements.
6. Age group: All participants will be fifth to sixth-grade students. Although this age-group varies a bit more than it should, it's as controlled as we could get (see sources or error for more details).

By controlling these variables, the study aims to isolate the effects of the different meditation techniques on reducing math anxiety, as measured by heart rate changes, the answers to the survey, and test performance, while keeping other potential influences constant.

 

 

1. Firstly, we categorize our test subjects into three groups: movement meditation, mindfulness meditation, and a control group with no meditation. We will do this by recording our participants' names and providing each with a unique number to protect their privacy. This list will be securely destroyed at the conclusion of the experiment.
2. For our initial group of ten test subjects, we will conduct a short assessment of their health conditions, and document any current medication usage. We will also ask our participants if they have practiced meditation daily. This information will be recorded in our logbook to ensure that we can keep track of all the sources of error for our experiment.
3. Following the health assessment, we will use heart rate watches to measure the resting heart rate of each subject for a duration of two minutes. Then, participants will engage in three ten-minute sessions of mindfulness meditation (We will set the mindfulness meditation video to the 1.25 speed to keep the movement and mindfulness meditation videos within the same time limit). After the meditation sessions, we will again use the heart rate watches to monitor their heart rates during the math test. The math test will consist of 100 single-digit multiplication questions that will have to be done within five minutes. Upon completion of the task, participants will be provided with a short survey to gather subjective feedback. The questions will be "On a scale of 0-10 (0 being no anxiety and 10 being extreme anxiety) how did you feel before and after the math test?". The second question will be "What do you think of the meditation technique we practiced?".
4. This process will be repeated with the next group of ten subjects, but with a slight modification. Instead of mindfulness meditation, participants will be instructed to follow along with a movement meditation video during the designated meditation sessions. Since this video didn't have any background music, we decided to play a calm music video at the same time as we play the movement meditation video.
5. Following the same protocol for the final group of ten test subjects. However, this group will not engage in any form of meditation practice. Because of this, we won't ask this group the second question of the survey.
6. Finally, after collecting data from all three groups from the heart rate measurements, test results, and survey answers, we will compare the results from the three different groups.

 

Pre-experiment questions

 

 

 

 

Meditation Sessions Notes

Mindfulness meditation!

First session: 8/11 test subjects attended this session. Only subject 3 has been calm during this meditation session. All of the other grade sixers and one grade five is trying to force it. They think it's pretty weird but they are trying their best. Everyone else is smirking about it. Some people are also whispering. Subject 7 even laughed out loud. There were many distractions during this session like the bells and students coming in from recess.  In conclusion most people think that the meditation was pretty weird but one person felt calm about this.

Second session: Only 5 people came today. Three of them are grade fives and two of them are grade sixers. They are doing better than yesterday. They are still finding it annoying, but they are trying to practice it at their best. Unlike yesterday, everyone is doing the deep breathing exercise but are still getting distracted during other parts of the video.

Third session: 8/11 test subjects attended this session. There has been loads of improvement since the first session but not as much as I hoped. 3 people are still not focusing throughout the video. Subject 7 in particular is having the most trouble with the meditation

Movement meditation!

First session: 6/11 participants attended this session. As soon as the meditation started, some people began to whisper to each other. In the middle of it some people would stop at some parts of the meditation and look around. Some disturbances and distractions occurred during the test, such as the classroom students and bells. Due to these interruptions and actions of participants, the subjects couldn't concentrate on the meditation which could affect their practice. Everyone was trying their best, though they shot weird looks at each other thinking about the meditation.

Second session: 7/11 test subjects showed up during this session. Some disturbances occurred during the meditation like talking to the teacher, school bells and students. Some people were whispering but they did a good job ignoring these interruptions. These participants also whispered, looked around and some stopped doing the meditation in the middle of it. These things could have affected their practice on the movement meditation but they did seem to get better at it.

Third session:5/11 participants attended this session. some disturbances occurred like a student entering our meditation room, School bells, and classroom students. The participants didn't get distracted too much nor did they lose their concentration because they did not whisper nor did they stop in the middle of the meditation. They seem to get the hang of the movements in the meditation and did improve in it from the last two days.

 

 

Results

Movement meditation

 

 

Mindfulness meditation

 

No meditation

 

 

   

We also made double bar graphs for the heart rate measurements to make it easier to measure the heart rate differences.

Here are the heart rate results for the mindfulness meditation group.

 

Here are the heart rate results for the movement meditation group.

 

And here are the results for the no meditation group.

 

 

 

 

In our experiment, the application of concentration in meditation directly relates with the outcomes observed among participants. While some individuals experienced benefits from the meditation sessions, others did not. This common outcome can be attributed to the varying levels of concentration exhibited during the practice.

Upon reviewing our meditation session notes, it became evident that certain participants struggled to maintain focus. Many people were whispering, giggling, and looking around . We documented this, indicating a lack of concentration during the sessions. Such behaviors not only disrupt the meditative atmosphere but also hinder the ability to gain the meaningful benefits from the practice.

We found out the key elements of meditation that include focused attention and a relaxed mindset, highlighting the importance of mastering focus for clearing mental clutter, fighting distractions, and finding inner peace.

It becomes obvious that concentration serves as an important component in the effectiveness of meditation. Those who were able to concentrate and anchor their awareness to the present moment likely experienced greater success in reaping the benefits of meditation. Conversely, individuals who allowed their minds to wander or succumbed to distractions would have found it challenging to attain the desired states of inner peace and mental clarity.

So what's the answer to " Which style of meditation helps reduce the amount of math anxiety we get before doing a few math exercises?." We learned that all of them help except no meditation. It really depends on the person.  Mindfulness meditation is suited for individuals looking to decrease negative thinking patterns and enhance creativity, although it may be challenging for those who overthink or are new to meditation. Moving meditation, on the other hand, offers a dynamic approach for individuals who struggle with traditional still meditation, providing an opportunity to cultivate mindfulness while engaging in everyday activities such as walking or dancing, ultimately bringing calm and presence to busy routines. However, we are multitasking and who has ever been good at that? As I said before, it's not as easy to reach that super deep meditative state since you're  juggling tasks.

Meditation does help but you have to make sure that you can maintain focus.

 

We did face lots of problems during this project  giving some inaccurate results, which will affect our conclusion. Some problems are the number of participants that we were able to gather for our experiment, which was a total of 19 test subjects. We also had a difference in the amount of participants in each group, like for the no meditation and movement meditation we had 7 people in each group, but for the mindfulness meditation we had 6 people which could also have affected our experiment results. Having at least 24 or 30 people attending the sessions would have been better. However, here is what we found out.

From what we had observed and faced in our experiment we discovered that both mindfulness and movement meditation groups had some small changes in heart rate  compared to the no meditation when we measured it before and after the 100 questions math test. Though not all of the test subjects had small changes in their heart rate like participants 9,7,5, and 3 from the movement meditation group, or participants 3,8 and 6 from the movement meditation group. We had some big changes in some participants' heart rate as well , like participants 1,2,and 6 from the movement meditation group or participants 2,4, and 7 from the mindfulness meditation group. From what we had learned we finally conclude that the type of meditation simply changes for everyone as it is dependent on their comfortability and interest. We could have proven this by adding it to our experiment which is one thing that we could have done better to get a more accurate result. Another thing that we would like to add is that the interest of the meditater is important in order to slow down their heart rate as their interest plays a key part in their concentration towards the meditation. These conclusions we found were based on our observations and our results, but we also included the website information to support our conclusion, and the information we found in three of them talked about the attention of the meditator while the other one stated that meditation is different for everyone.

 

Our study could have several real-world applications. This includes:

1. Educational Interventions in Schools:

The Mind Over Math project's findings could be incorporated into a program aimed at reducing math anxiety in school settings since 20% of people suffer from math anxiety.

Tailored Meditation Sessions: Based on the project's results, teachers could design specific meditation sessions aligned with the most effective proven technique. (e.g., mindfulness meditation). These sessions might involve short, focused meditation exercises tailored to the age group and attention spans of students.

Pre-Exam Practices: Students could do some pre-exam practices that include brief meditation practices before math assessments. For instance, a 5-minute mindfulness meditation session could be taught in the classroom to help students manage anxiety and reduce math anxiety before a math quiz/test.

2. Workplace Stress Management Programs:

Stressed at work? Who isn't, right? But our project's got your back. Our project's results can be applied to design stress management programs within corporate environments.

Task-Specific Meditation Sessions: Companies can offer task-specific meditation sessions tailored to the nature of the work. For employees engaging in quantitative tasks, such as data analysis or financial planning, incorporating mindfulness or movement meditation before these activities could be beneficial.

Wellness Workshops: Conducting wellness workshops that educate employees about the impact of stress on performance and introducing evidence-based meditation techniques as practical coping strategies. This could include hands-on sessions where employees learn and practice meditation under the guidance of qualified instructors.

 

By implementing these detailed strategies, both in educational and workplace settings, the Mind Over Math project can contribute to countless solutions to reducing math anxiety and improving overall well-being.

We encountered a few sources of error when conducting our experiment.

Some people showed up to more classes than others, especially in the movement meditation groups where attendance varied a lot. This difference in attendance could mess with our data, making it harder to trust the results. Knowing who showed up regularly and who didn't might give us clues about how engaged people were with the meditations. Maybe next time, we could consistently remind and get our test subjects so that we could avoid the major differences of the attendance to meditation sessions, giving everyone an equal amount of days to finish the experiment as well as providing us and the reader clearer results.

Variability in testing environments should have been a controlled variable. However, due to lack of space and time we had to conduct the experiment in different places. In our study, we had mindfulness meditation in the library, movement meditation in the music room, and a control group with no meditation in the library as well. This setup might've caused differences in noise levels, lighting, and overall vibe, which could have resulted in different levels of relaxed and focused participants during meditation. That could affect their heart rate readings and test performance. Also, differences in the way a room is built and setted up might have affected how comfortable people felt and how well their attention toward the meditation techniques, possibly messing with how effective the interventions were. Building on, things like temperature and air quality might've been different between the library and music room, which could've messed with participants' physical responses and overall experiences. Also we did one movement meditation session in a classroom due to trickster residency. The sound levels between the music room and the classroom during lunch time were not comparable since the classroom was much louder.  In summary, our testing conditions weren't consistent, which could've messed up our study's validity. To fix this in the future, we need to make sure all experimental groups are tested in the same place to minimize how much the environment messes with the results.

Additionally, it's worth noting that the participants in the mindfulness meditation group were sitting right next to their friends. This aspect of the experimental setup could have influenced their experiences and potentially impacted the results, as social interactions can play a role in how people engage with mindfulness practices. We should have remembered to make sure that those in the mindfulness meditation group should not sit close to others similar to the other groups. As for the movement meditation group, it would have been more spread out and also arranged the participants in a way that they won't talk or whisper to their friend as it may affect their concentration and the experiment.

One more thing we realized during our experiment: the mindfulness meditation video ended up being slightly longer than the movement meditation one, despite our best efforts to keep them the same length. It wasn't a massive error, but it might have thrown off the balance a bit. It could have subtly influenced how people felt during the sessions.

Another thing that we've messed with our results was changing the lunchtime recess for the grade sixers. We had to do the experiment when everyone was available, so we ended up shifting around their break time. This switch-up could've thrown off their usual routine and affected how they felt during the experiment. The change in lunchtime could've made some kids feel different during the meditation and math test, which would have messed with our results. 

Another thing we noticed was that the time between meditation sessions and measuring resting heart rates wasn't consistent. Sometimes there was a big gap, and other times it was more immediate. Sometimes we measured the resting heart rate 1 minute after the test and other times we measured the heart rate of other participants 10 minutes after the meditation. It made it a bit tricky to pinpoint the exact resting heart rate of the participants.

During our experiment we planned it in a way so that every test subject showed up  for the meditation sessions and had enough time to do our experiment, but some didn't show up on some days due to them not knowing, being away, or school clubs. We also didn't have enough time to do our tests with our test subjects due to our heart rate measuring it time which was 5 min, but we changed it in the middle causing it to be a bit inaccurate as well as with the environment as we ran out of time causing a source of error. We tried to even out the amount of days each participant has come  since new test subjects came each day making some participants have their test earlier than others or have different amounts of meditation sessions.

Finally, we had just 19 participants in our study. This means that we had only 7 people in the mindfulness meditation group, and 6 people each in the mindfulness and no meditation group.  It might not sound like a big deal, but when you're trying to draw conclusions from a study, having a smaller group like that can really make things tricky. With a larger group, you've got more diversity, more perspectives, and it generally gives you a better shot at seeing patterns in your data. But with just 19 people, it's like trying to piece together a puzzle with only a handful of pieces. It's not just about the numbers, though. Having a small group like ours can also mean you're more susceptible to outliers or random quirks in your data. Someone having a particularly good or bad day could ruin your results, and you might not even realize it. Plus, with a smaller sample size, it's harder to say whether your findings would hold up if you tested it on a larger, more representative group.

These were our potential sources of error we had encountered in our experiment.

 

 

For Background Research:

Mathematics Anxiety: University of Cambridge https://www.cne.psychol.cam.ac.uk/what-is-mathematics-anxiety#:~:text=Mathematics%20Anxiety%20is%20a%20negative,solving%20of%20mathematical%20problems%20in%20%E2%80%A6

Math Anxiety: What Is It and How to Overcome It - Medical News Today https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/math-anxiety-definition-symptoms-causes-and-tips#symptoms

Why Do People Get So Anxious About Math? - TED Ed: Lessons Worth Sharing https://ed.ted.com/lessons/why-do-people-get-so-anxious-about-math-orly-rubinsten

What Is a Dangerous Heart Rate? - Healthline https://www.healthline.com/health/dangerous-heart-rate#:~:text=A%20typical%20resting%20pulse%20rate,heart%20beats%20in%20a%20minute

6 Reasons Your Heart Rate Is High - Hackensack Meridian Health https://www.hackensackmeridianhealth.org/en/HealthU/2022/02/24/6-Reasons-Your-Heart-Rate-is-High

What Is Mindfulness Meditation: Find the Answer - American Institute of Health Care Professionals https://aihcp.net/2012/04/23/what-is-mindfulness-meditation-find-the-answer/

What Is Movement Meditation - American Institute of Health Care Professionals https://aihcp.net/2012/10/17/what-is-movement-meditation/

Benefits of Physical Activity - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/pa-health/index.htm

Child's Average Attention Span by Age from Toddler to Teens - Ready Kids https://readykids.com.au/average-attention-span-by-age/

The link between music and memory (our previous science fair project).

For Experiment:

Movement Meditation - YouTube: Helen Andersson Seers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MLCf9b_OdQ

10 min super deep meditation music: Connect with spiritual guide : Deep Healing- Youtube Deep breath relaxing music https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF-w7jzVWcM

10 MIN Guided Meditation to Clear Your Mind and Start New Positive Habits - YouTube: Boho Beautiful Yoga https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTN29kj7e-w

100 horizantal multiplucation/division questions (facts 1 to 12) (A) - Math Drills https://math-drills.com/multiop/mixed_multiplicationdivision_horizontal_100_0112_0112_001.php

 

For Analysis and Conclusions:

Meditation: A simple fast way to reduce stress: Mayo clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/meditation/in-depth/meditation/art-20045858#:~:text=Focusing%20your%20attention%20is%20one,mantra%20or%20even%20your%20breathing.

10 reasons why people dont meditate: Positive phycology : https://positivepsychology.com/10-reasons-why-people-dont-meditate/

5 reasons why concentration is important for meditation https://www.successconsciousness.com/blog/meditation/why-concentration-is-important-for-meditation/#:~:text=Successful%20meditation%20requires%20good%20concentration,meditation%20easier%20and%20more%20effective.

The seven different types of meditation- (Which one is the best for you) Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H37BDUyCEe0

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to a number of individuals who played important roles in the success of our project.

Foremost, we would like to express our thanks to Allison Ghosh, our science fair coordinator. and Karen Riel, our science fair supervisor.  Mrs. Ghosh's and Mrs. Riels support, guidance, and updates on crucial dates and deadlines contributed to our finished project. Their motivation inspired us to excel in our work. Special thanks to them for assisting us in organizing our experiment, making it a rewarding experience.

We would also like to thank our formal grade five teacher Mr. Neilson and our music teacher Mrs.Lau. Mr.Neilson let the grade sixers eat their lunch in his classroom along with the grade 5, and Mrs.Lau let us borrow her classroom for the movement meditation group to do their meditation.. Till this day, we can't thank them enough.

A shoutout goes to our participants. Their cooperation won't be forgotten. Without their dedication, this project would not have been possible. Their contributions have truly made a lasting impact.

Finally, we extend our thanks to our parents, whose encouragement provided the extra motivation needed to push us forward. Their support was a driving force behind our success.

Together, these individuals have formed a vital network of support, and we are truly grateful for the effort that has brought our project to success.