Comparing the Efficacy of Cognitive Therapy, Systematic Desensitization and Study Skill's Training on Decreasing Test Anxiety and Improving Academic Achievement of High School Female Students

The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of cognitive therapy, systematic desensitization and study skill training on decreasing the level of test anxiety and improving academic achievement of Saggez high school female students for this respect, 160 grade 3 subjects, were randomly selected from Saggez high schools. First, the Spielberger test anxiety scale was administered to subjects. Result the questionnaires relating to test anxiety and interview showed that 43 subjects had highly test anxiety. Then, 40 students were assigned to experimental and control groups (3 experimental & 1 Control group). Experimental groups then participated in cognitive therapy (group1), systematic desensitization (group2), and study skill trainnigin (group3), for 10 sessions of 1/30 hours. Finally the Speliberger test anxiety scale was administrated to 4 groups again. One-way analysis of variance on the difference between pre-and post-test scores and analysis of covariance showed there was significant differences among the control vs, experimental groups as for as the level of anxiety was decreased. Furthere analysis through the Tuekey test showed that the level of anxiety significantly decreased in cognitive therapy and study skill training groups compared to the Systematic desensitization group. Further more, one way ANOVA results indicated significant differences between experimental and control groups as for as academic achievement was involved. Cognitive therapy, systematic desensitization and study skill training are effective therapy on decreasing the level of test anxiety and improving academic achievement of high school female students and this effect is more obvious for Cognitive therapy and study skill training.