Education research: ALLS post-instruction opinion results (Cuesta College, fall 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 fall semester 2011 sections 70178, 70186, 70200
(N = 44, matched-pairs only)

16. I can keep abreast of present-day discoveries and developments in astronomy 
(current events). 
1. Strongly disagree      0 : 
2. Disagree               4 : ****
3. Neutral               15 : **************
4. Agree                 17 : ********************  [3.7 +/- 0.9]
5. Strongly agree         8 : ***********

17. I can develop scientific evidence-based research questions.
1. Strongly disagree      0 : 
2. Disagree               1 : *
3. Neutral               10 : **********
4. Agree                 22 : *****************************  [4.0 +/- 0.8]
5. Strongly agree        12 : ********

18. I can develop procedures to gather evidence in order to answer research 
questions.
1. Strongly disagree      0 : 
2. Disagree               0 : 
3. Neutral                2 : **
4. Agree                 25 : ************************************  [4.3 +/- 0.6]
5. Strongly agree        17 : ************

19. I can make appropriate evidence-supported conclusions.
1. Strongly disagree      0 : 
2. Disagree               0 : 
3. Neutral                3 : ***
4. Agree                 23 : ***********************  [4.3 +/- 0.6]
5. Strongly agree        18 : ******************

20. I can explain research findings in a report, poster, or presentation.
1. Strongly disagree      1 : *
2. Disagree               0 : 
3. Neutral                4 : ****
4. Agree                 26 : **************************  [4.1 +/- 0.8]
5. Strongly agree        13 : *************

21. I can evaluate evidence to determine whether or not it appropriately answers 
a research question.
1. Strongly disagree      0 : 
2. Disagree               0 : 
3. Neutral                5 : *****
4. Agree                 22 : **********************  [4.3 +/- 0.7]
5. Strongly agree        17 : *****************

22. Astronomy lab was an enjoyable experience.
1. Strongly disagree      0 : 
2. Disagree               0 : 
3. Neutral                4 : ****
4. Agree                 20 : ********************
5. Strongly agree        20 : ********************  [4.4 +/- 0.7]

23. I asked a lot of questions in astronomy lab.
1. Strongly disagree      3 : ***
2. Disagree              13 : *************
3. Neutral               22 : **********************  [2.7 +/- 0.8]
4. Agree                  5 : *****
5. Strongly agree         1 : *

24. I generally understood what needed to be done in astronomy lab.
1. Strongly disagree      0 : 
2. Disagree               0 : 
3. Neutral                7 : *******
4. Agree                 26 : **************************  [4.1 +/- 0.6]
5. Strongly agree        11 : ***********

25. My work in astronomy lab was graded fairly.
1. Strongly disagree      0 : 
2. Disagree               1 : *
3. Neutral                2 : **
4. Agree                 16 : ****************
5. Strongly agree        25 : *************************  [4.5 +/- 0.7]

26. I did a lot of explaining to other students in astronomy lab.
1. Strongly disagree      0 : 
2. Disagree               4 : ****
3. Neutral               23 : ***********************  [3.4 +/- 0.8]
4. Agree                 12 : ************
5. Strongly agree         5 : *****

27. I was generally confused about what was going on in astronomy lab.
1. Strongly disagree     17 : *****************
2. Disagree              18 : ******************  [1.9 +/- 1.0]
3. Neutral                5 : *****
4. Agree                  3 : ***
5. Strongly agree         1 : *

28. I would recommend astronomy lab to other students.
1. Strongly disagree      0 : 
2. Disagree               0 : 
3. Neutral                4 : ****
4. Agree                 18 : ******************
5. Strongly agree        22 : **********************  [4.4 +/- 0.7]

29. Astronomy lab should be taken in the same semester as astronomy lecture.
1. Strongly disagree      0 : 
2. Disagree               1 : *
3. Neutral               11 : ***********
4. Agree                 10 : **********
5. Strongly agree        22 : **********************  [4.2 +/- 0.9]

30. Astronomy lab should be taken after completing the entire semester of 
astronomy lecture.
1. Strongly disagree      6 : ******
2. Disagree              16 : ****************
3. Neutral               20 : ********************  [2.4 +/- 0.8]
4. Agree                  2 : **
5. Strongly agree         0 : 

Previous posts:

• Education research: Astronomy Laboratory Learning Survey (ALLS), pre- and post-instruction forms (version 2.0).
  
• Education research: Astronomy Laboratory Learning Survey (ALLS), pre- and post-instruction forms (version 1.1).