20131214

Education research: SMQ results (Cuesta College, fall semester 2013)

Student attitudes were assessed using the Science Motivation Questionnaire (SMQ), a 30-question, five-point Likert scale questionnaire that measures six attitude subscales, each scored out of a maximum of 30 points (Glynn, Taasoobshirazi, & Brickman, 2009):
  1. Intrinsically motivated science learning;
  2. Extrinsically motivated science learning;
  3. Personal relevance of learning science;
  4. Self-determination to learn science;
  5. Self-efficacy for learning science;
  6. Anxiety about science assessment (reversed-coded for scoring).
The SMQ was administered as a pre-test on the first day of class, and as a post-test on the last day of class.

Cuesta College
Astronomy 210 fall semester 2013 sections 70158, 70160
(N = 52, matched pairs only, excluding negative informed consent form responses)

Int. Motiv.    Ext. Motiv.    Relevance    Self-determ.    Self-effic.    Anxiety    Total/150    
Initial     19 ± 4 18 ± 3 16 ± 4 20 ± 3 20 ± 4 14 ± 3 108 ± 14
Final     19 ± 4 18 ± 3 16 ± 4 18 ± 3 18 ± 4 15 ± 4 105 ± 16
matched-pair Hake gains:
<g> -0.06 -0.09 -0.07 -0.21 -0.22 0 -0.17
stdev ±0.31 ± 0.34 ±0.32 ±0.37 ±0.41 ±0.24 ±0.53
class-wide Hake gains:
<g> -0.03 -0.03 -0.02 -0.14 -0.16 +0.03 -0.08

Little or no difference for all subscales and the total score from pre- to post-instruction, for both sections combined. This is comparable to a previous semester's SMQ findings, and six previous semesters' results at Cuesta College of the Survey of Attitudes Towards Astronomy (SATA), a 34-question, five-point Likert scale questionnaire that measures four attitude subscales (Zeilik & Morris, 2003). Previous semesters' SMQ, SATA results:
References:
  • Glynn, S. M., Taasoobshirazi, G., & Brickman, P. (2009), "Science Motivation Questionnaire: Construct Validation with Nonscience Majors," Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 46, 127-146 (*.html).
  • Science Motivation Questionnaire (SMQ) website (*.html).
  • Zeilik, M. & Morris, V. J. (2003), "An Examination of Misconceptions in an Astronomy Course for Science, Mathematics, and Engineering Majors," Astronomy Education Review, 2(1), 101 (*.html).

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