Education research: ALLS post-instruction opinion results (Cuesta College, spring semester 2011)

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. Only matched-pair results are shown, for students who were also able to take the pre-instruction ALLS at the first laboratory meeting. 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 spring semester 2011 sections 30678, 30679, 30680, 30682
(N = 65, matched-pairs only)

16. Astronomy lab was (or would have been) helpful for learning in lecture.
1. Strongly disagree      0 : 
2. Disagree               4 : ****
3. Neutral               14 : **************
4. Agree                 28 : *****************************  [3.9 +/- 0.9]
5. Strongly agree        18 : ******************

17. I understand more about astronomy concepts because of what I learned in lab.
1. Strongly disagree      0 : 
2. Disagree               1 : *
3. Neutral                7 : *******
4. Agree                 34 : **********************************  [4.2 +/- 0.7]
5. Strongly agree        23 : ***********************

18. Astronomy lab was an enjoyable experience.
1. Strongly disagree      0 : 
2. Disagree               0 : 
3. Neutral                3 : ***
4. Agree                 25 : *************************
5. Strongly agree        37 : *************************************  [4.5 +/- 0.6]

19. Math used in astronomy lab was difficult.
1. Strongly disagree     19 : *******************
2. Disagree              32 : ********************************
3. Neutral               11 : ***********  [2.0 +/- 0.9]
4. Agree                  2 : **
5. Strongly agree         1 : *

20. It was hard to understand concepts in astronomy lab.
1. Strongly disagree     11 : ***********
2. Disagree              41 : *****************************************  [2.1 +/- 0.7]
3. Neutral               11 : ***********
4. Agree                  1 : *
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               7 : *******
3. Neutral               18 : ******************
4. Agree                 25 : *************************  [3.7 +/- 0.9]
5. Strongly agree        15 : ***************

22. I asked a lot of questions in astronomy lab.
1. Strongly disagree      6 : ******
2. Disagree              17 : *****************
3. Neutral               22 : **********************  [2.9 +/- 1.1]
4. Agree                 15 : ***************
5. Strongly agree         5 : *****

23. I generally understood what was needed to be done in astronomy lab.
1. Strongly disagree      0 : 
2. Disagree               1 : *
3. Neutral                5 : *****
4. Agree                 38 : **************************************  [4.2 +/- 0.6]
5. Strongly agree        21 : *********************

24. My work in astronomy lab was graded fairly.
1. Strongly disagree      1 : *
2. Disagree               0 : 
3. Neutral                5 : *****
4. Agree                 14 : **************
5. Strongly agree        45 : *********************************************  [4.6 +/- 0.8]

25. I did a lot of explaining to other students in astronomy lab.
1. Strongly disagree      0 : 
2. Disagree               4 : ****
3. Neutral               29 : *****************************  [3.5 +/- 0.8]
4. Agree                 25 : *************************
5. Strongly agree         7 : *******

26. I was generally confused about what was going on in astronomy lab.
1. Strongly disagree     17 : *****************
2. Disagree              37 : *************************************  [1.9 +/- 0.7]
3. Neutral               11 : ***********
4. Agree                  0 : 
5. Strongly agree         0 : 

27. I would recommend astronomy lab to other students.
1. Strongly disagree      0 : 
2. Disagree               0 : 
3. Neutral                2 : **
4. Agree                 23 : ******************
5. Strongly agree        40 : ****************************************  [4.6 +/- 0.6]

28. Astronomy lab should only be taken in the same semester as astronomy lecture.
1. Strongly disagree      4 : ****
2. Disagree              10 : **********
3. Neutral               23 : ***********************  [3.3 +/- 1.1]
4. Agree                 18 : ******************
5. Strongly agree        10 : **********

29. Astronomy lab should only be taken after completing the entire semester of 
astronomy lecture.
1. Strongly disagree      9 : *********
2. Disagree              30 : ******************************  [2.3 +/- 0.9]
3. Neutral               22 : ************
4. Agree                  4 : ****
5. Strongly agree         0 : 

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               0 : 
3. Neutral               20 : ********************
4. Agree                 30 : ******************************  [3.9 +/- 0.7]
5. Strongly agree        15 : ***************

Previous posts:

• Education research: ALLS demographic results (Cuesta College, spring semester 2011).
  
• Education research: ALLS demographic results (Cuesta College, fall semester 2010).
  
• Education research: ALLS pre- to post-instruction opinion results (Cuesta College, fall semester 2010).
  
• Education research: ALLS pre- to post-instruction opinion results (Cuesta College, spring semester 2010).
  
• Education research: ALLS post-instruction opinion results (Cuesta College, spring semester 2010).
  
• Education research: ALLS demographic results (Cuesta College, spring semester 2010).
  
• Education research: ALLS pre- to post-instruction attitude shifts (Cuesta College, fall semester 2009).
  
• Education research: ALLS post-instruction opinion results (Cuesta College, fall semester 2009).
  
• Education research: ALLS demographic results (Cuesta College, fall semester 2009).
  
• Education research: Astronomy Laboratory Learning Survey (ALLS), pre- and post-instruction forms.