Education research: ALLS post-instruction opinion results (Cuesta College, spring semester 2012)

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 2012 sections 30678, 30679, 30680, 30682
(N = 57, matched-pairs only)

16. I can keep abreast of present-day discoveries and developments in astronomy 
(current events). 
1. Strongly disagree      2 : **
2. Disagree               4 : ****
3. Neutral               14 : **************
4. Agree                 24 : ************************  [3.7 +/- 1.0]
5. Strongly agree        13 : *************

17. I can develop scientific evidence-based research questions.
1. Strongly disagree      1 : *
2. Disagree               2 : **
3. Neutral               11 : ***********
4. Agree                 33 : *********************************  [3.9 +/- 0.8]
5. Strongly agree        10 : **********

18. I can develop procedures to gather evidence in order to answer research 
questions.
1. Strongly disagree      0 : 
2. Disagree               0 : 
3. Neutral                3 : ***
4. Agree                 38 : **************************************  [4.2 +/- 0.5]
5. Strongly agree        16 : ****************

19. I can make appropriate evidence-supported conclusions.
1. Strongly disagree      0 : 
2. Disagree               1 : *
3. Neutral                0 :
4. Agree                 35 : ***********************************  [4.3 +/- 0.6]
5. Strongly agree        21 : *********************

20. I can explain research findings in a report, poster, or presentation.
1. Strongly disagree      0 : 
2. Disagree               1 : *
3. Neutral                4 : ***
4. Agree                 35 : ***********************************  [4.2 +/- 0.6]
5. Strongly agree        17 : *****************

21. I can evaluate evidence to determine whether or not it appropriately answers 
a research question.
1. Strongly disagree      0 : 
2. Disagree               2 : **
3. Neutral                7 : *******
4. Agree                 35 : ***********************************  [4.0 +/- 0.7]
5. Strongly agree        13 : *************

22. Astronomy lab was an enjoyable experience.
1. Strongly disagree      0 : 
2. Disagree               2 : **
3. Neutral                7 : *******
4. Agree                 19 : *******************
5. Strongly agree        29 : *****************************  [4.3 +/- 0.8]

23. I asked a lot of questions in astronomy lab.
1. Strongly disagree      4 : ****
2. Disagree              13 : *************
3. Neutral               21 : *********************  [3.0 +/- 1.0]
4. Agree                 15 : ***************
5. Strongly agree         4 : ****

24. I generally understood what needed to be done in astronomy lab.
1. Strongly disagree      1 : *
2. Disagree               0 : 
3. Neutral                5 : *****
4. Agree                 14 : **************
5. Strongly agree        45 : *********************************************  [4.1 +/- 0.7]

25. My work in astronomy lab was graded fairly.
1. Strongly disagree      1 : *
2. Disagree               0 : 
3. Neutral                3 : ***
4. Agree                 21 : *********************
5. Strongly agree        32 : ********************************  [4.5 +/- 0.8]

26. I did a lot of explaining to other students in astronomy lab.
1. Strongly disagree      1 : *
2. Disagree               7 : *******
3. Neutral               26 : **************************  [3.4 +/- 0.9]
4. Agree                 17 : *****************
5. Strongly agree         6 : ******

27. I was generally confused about what was going on in astronomy lab.
1. Strongly disagree     14 : **************
2. Disagree              32 : ********************************  [2.0 +/- 0.9]
3. Neutral                7 : *******
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                 21 : *********************
5. Strongly agree        32 : ********************************  [4.5 +/- 0.6]

29. Astronomy lab should be taken in the same semester as astronomy lecture.
1. Strongly disagree      3 : ***
2. Disagree               2 : **
3. Neutral               17 : *****************
4. Agree                 14 : **************
5. Strongly agree        21 : *********************  [3.8 +/- 1.1]

30. Astronomy lab should be taken after completing the entire semester of 
astronomy lecture.
1. Strongly disagree     11 : ***********
2. Disagree              13 : *************
3. Neutral               21 : *********************  [2.6 +/- 1.1]
4. Agree                  9 : *********
5. Strongly agree         3 : ***

Previous posts:

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