Learning life by the numbers.

• Position: YOUR LIFE - Brief article

A psychological intervention implemented to help students cope and learn more in a tough statistics course does more than just assist them in the class, according to a study at Ohio State University, Columbus. Researchers found the intervention aids students in improving their math literacy--what scientists call "numeracy"--which was vital for success in the course, but it also helps the intervention students, compared to students who did not get the intervention, demonstrate better financial literacy and make better health-related decisions during the semester they took the course.

The researchers wanted to see if a psychological intervention called values affirmation could help students succeed in the class by making them more comfortable dealing with the math that may intimidate them. The hope was that this would have a snowball effect, helping students in other areas of their life where...