Calculation of the Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient between the MARS test and Differential Aptitude Test scores was " 0.64 ( p < . 01 ), indicating that higher MARS scores relate to lower math test scores and " since high anxiety interferes with performance, and poor performance produces anxiety, this result provides evidence that the MARS does measure mathematics anxiety . " This test was intended for use in diagnosing math anxiety, testing efficacy of different math anxiety treatment approaches and possibly designing an anxiety hierarchy to be used in desensitization treatments . and the test is used profusely in math anxiety research.