SPCI pre-test comparison: Cuesta College SLO vs. NC campuses

The Star Properties Concept Inventory (SPCI, developed by Janelle Bailey, University of Nevada-Las Vegas) was administered to Astronomy 210 (one-semester introductory astronomy) students at Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA during the first class meeting, at both the main San Luis Obispo campus and the North County campus at Paso Robles.

     Cuesta College    Cuesta College
     Astronomy 210     Astronomy 210
     SLO campus        NC campus
     Fall Semester     Fall Semester
     2008              2008
N    85 students       31 students
low   2                 3
mean  6.7 +/- 2.8       7.3 +/- 2.1
high 18                13

A "Student" t-test of the null hypothesis results in p = 0.28, thus there is no significant difference between students at these two Cuesta College campuses. This is the first time a comparison has been done between campuses for the SPCI pre-test.

For earlier results at Cuesta College and further discussion of the SPCI, see previous posts:

• Spring Semester 2006-Spring Semester 2007.
• Summer Session 2007.
• Fall Semester 2007.
• Spring Semester 2008.