Mathematics, for a number of reasons, is sometimes viewed as an unpopular subject, one that provokes strong negative responses among students. Results on questions about students' affective responses to mathematics administered during the second National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) mathematics assessment showed, however, that for younger students, in particular, mathematics did not necessarily evoke strong negative feelings. In fact, mathematics was liked and enjoyed by a majority of respondents. Results for the 9-yearolds and some results for the 13-yearolds are reported in this article; similar analyses of results for the 13-year-olds and 17-year-olds are presented in the October 1980 issue of the Mathematics Teacher.
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Carpenter et al. (1980) studied this question.