Education research: ALLS post-instruction opinion results (Cuesta College, Fall Semester 2009)

Student attitudes are assessed using an Astronomy Laboratory Learning Survey (ALLS), a five-point Likert scale questionnaire with demographic questions, and entry/exit evaluation questions (Patrick M. Len, in development) to Astronomy 210L students at Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA. This laboratory course is a one-semester, adjunct course to Astronomy 210 lecture, and is taken primarily by students to satisfy their general education science laboratory transfer requirement.

The ALLS is administered as a pre-test on the first laboratory meeting, before any introduction/instruction took place; and as a post-test on the last laboratory meeting.

The results from the post-test opinion questions follow below. Values for the mean and standard deviations are given next to the modal response category for each question.

Cuesta College
Astronomy Laboratory Learning Survey (ALLS) 
Post-instruction opinion results
Astronomy 210L Fall Semester 2009 sections 70178, 70186, 70200

16. Astronomy lab was (or would have been) helpful for learning in lecture.
1. Strongly disagree      0 : 
2. Disagree               2 : **
3. Neutral               12 : ************
4. Agree                 30 : ******************************  [4.0 +/- 0.8]
5. Strongly agree        17 : *****************

17. I understand more about astronomy concepts because of what I learned in lab.
1. Strongly disagree      0 : 
2. Disagree               1 : *
3. Neutral                3 : ***
4. Agree                 41 : *****************************************  [4.2 +/- 0.6]
5. Strongly agree        16 : ****************

18. Astronomy lab was an enjoyable experience.
1. Strongly disagree      1 : *
2. Disagree               1 : *
3. Neutral                7 : *******
4. Agree                 30 : ******************************  [4.2 +/- 0.8]
5. Strongly agree        22 : **********************

19. Math used in astronomy lab was difficult.
1. Strongly disagree      3 : **
2. Disagree              31 : *******************************  [2.6 +/- 0.9]
3. Neutral               18 : ********************
4. Agree                  7 : *****
5. Strongly agree         2 : *

20. It was hard to understand concepts in astronomy lab.
1. Strongly disagree      3 : ***
2. Disagree              31 : *******************************  [2.5 +/- 0.8]
3. Neutral               20 : ********************
4. Agree                  6 : ******
5. Strongly agree         1 : *

21. This course helped me see how astronomy is related to other sciences such as 
geology, physics, and chemistry.
1. Strongly disagree      0 : 
2. Disagree               5 : *****
3. Neutral               14 : **************
4. Agree                 35 : ***********************************  [3.7 +/- 0.8]
5. Strongly agree         7 : *******

22. I asked a lot of questions in astronomy lab.
1. Strongly disagree      5 : *****
2. Disagree              17 : *****************
3. Neutral               26 : **************************  [2.8 +/- 1.0]
4. Agree                  9 : *********
5. Strongly agree         4 : ****

23. I generally understood what was needed to be done in astronomy lab.
1. Strongly disagree      0 : 
2. Disagree               1 : *
3. Neutral                8 : ********
4. Agree                 39 : ***************************************  [4.0 +/- 0.6]
5. Strongly agree        12 : ************

24. My work in astronomy lab was graded fairly.
1. Strongly disagree      1 : *
2. Disagree               3 : ***
3. Neutral                2 : **
4. Agree                 25 : *************************
5. Strongly agree        30 : ******************************  [4.3 +/- 0.9]

25. I did a lot of explaining to other students in astronomy lab.
1. Strongly disagree      0 : 
2. Disagree               7 : *******
3. Neutral               33 : *********************************  [3.3 +/- 0.8]
4. Agree                 17 : *****************
5. Strongly agree         4 : ****

26. I was generally confused about what was going on in astronomy lab.
1. Strongly disagree     10 : **********
2. Disagree              29 : *****************************  [2.3 +/- 0.9]
3. Neutral               16 : ****************
4. Agree                  6 : ******
5. Strongly agree         0 : 

27. I would recommend astronomy lab to other students.
1. Strongly disagree      0 : 
2. Disagree               1 : *
3. Neutral                6 : ******
4. Agree                 23 : ***********************
5. Strongly agree        31 : *******************************  [4.4 +/- 0.7]

28. Astronomy lab should only be taken in the same semester as astronomy lecture.
1. Strongly disagree      6 : ******
2. Disagree               7 : *******
3. Neutral               18 : ******************  [3.4 +/- 1.2]
4. Agree                 17 : *****************
5. Strongly agree        13 : *************

29. Astronomy lab should only be taken after completing the entire semester of 
astronomy lecture.
1. Strongly disagree      9 : *********
2. Disagree              24 : ************************  [2.4 +/- 0.9]
3. Neutral               21 : *********************
4. Agree                  6 : ******
5. Strongly agree         1 : *

30. This course helped me feel more comfortable with the idea that many values in 
science are uncertain to some degree.
1. Strongly disagree      0 : 
2. Disagree               3 : ***
3. Neutral               13 : *************
4. Agree                 38 : **************************************  [3.8 +/- 0.7]
5. Strongly agree         7 : *******

Previous posts:

• Education research: ALLS demographic results (Cuesta College, Fall Semester 2009).
  
• Education research: Astronomy Laboratory Learning Survey (ALLS), pre- and post-instruction forms.