Bulacan State University

Malolos, Bulacan

A Concept Paper in the Subject

Biological Psychology PSY 303

1st Semester 2020-2021

Online learning: Anxiety and Performance of Students in time of Covid-19

Submitted by:

Limquiaco, Danielle Ann B.

Rodriguez, Joyce Ann N.

Salvador, Alliah Kate E.

BS Psychology 3-F

Submitted to: Josefina Ochoa

February 2021
Conceptual Framework

Anxiety is a psychological and physical response to treat a self-concept characterized by

subjective, consciously perceived feelings of tension (Spielberger, 1983). Anxious students have

experience of cognitive deficits like misapprehension of information or blocking of memory and

recall. Speilberger reported two forms of anxiety: state anxiety – a response to a particular

stimulation or set of circumstances, and trait anxiety – an intrinsic characteristic of the person.

Previous anxiety research suggests that there are roughly two types that can be experienced at

different psychological levels (Spielberger, 1966). Hancock concludes that students with high level

anxiety show significantly less motivation in classrooms perceived as highly evaluative compared

to students with low level anxiety (Hancock, 2001).

Some research shows that the pandemic can cause student’s anxiety that will affect their academic

performance. There is also a result in college student research that specifically struggles with

anxiety and the form of learning setting as a predictive factor of academic performance during this

pandemic. However, e-learning tools are playing a crucial role during this pandemic. E-learning

systems can assist learning providers to manage, plan, deliver and track the learning and teaching

process. Furthermore, it aims to help instructors, schools and universities facilitate student learning

during periods of universities and schools closure. In addition, most of these system is free which

can help ensure continuous learning during this Coronavirus pandemic. However, the provision

and usage of online learning materials in e-learning system is becoming the main challenge for

many universities during COVID-19 pandemic. E-learning system is an important source of

information, due to its ubiquity (availability anywhere and anytime), low cost, ease of use and

interactive character. E-learning system such as Blackboard has several fantastic features that

would be valuable for use during this Coronavirus pandemic. Using this system in this time might

well be more practical. For example, through e-learning system, students may be texting or

engaged in some learning activity with teachers on a laptop or mobile device from their home. In

addition, students can easily to get learning content into their mobile devices because they can be

connected to mobile networks or to local wireless networks. Ülker and Yılmaz (2016) mentioned

that one approach to e-learning is the use of learning management system (LMS).
 Thus, e-learning refers to offer, organize and manage e- learning activities within a system, such

as student enrolment, exams, assignments, course descriptions, lesson plans, messages, syllabus,

basic course materials, etc. (Haghshenas 2019).

This conceptual model is intended to illustrate that anxiety have an effect on academic

performance. The model also shows online learning and the pandemic is affecting and anxiety and

academic performance of the students. The flow of the study can be shown in the diagrammatic

format showing the connections between the variables in this research, as well as the moderating

variables, as summarized in the figure below.

Online Learning
Covid-19 Pandemic
Mode of Learning
Gadgets Environment

Online learning: Anxiety and

Performance of Students in

Level of Anxiety time of Covid-19

Factors
School works
Pressure

Student Performance

Figure 1. Conceptual model of moderating effect of social support.