The Role of Beliefs and Attitudes in Learning Statistics: Towards an Assessment Framework


Authors: 
Gal, I., & Ginsburg, L.
Category: 
Volume: 
2(2)
Pages: 
Online
Year: 
1994
Publisher: 
Journal of Statistics Education
URL: 
http://www.amstat.org/publications/jse/v2n2/gal.html
Abstract: 

While many teachers of statistics are likely to focus on transmitting knowledge, many students are likely to have trouble with statistics due to non-cognitive factors, such as negative attitudes or beliefs towards statistics. Such factors can impede learning of statistics, or hinder the extent to which students will develop useful statistical intuitions and apply what they have learned outside the classroom. This paper reviews the role of affect and attitudes in the learning of statistics, critiques current instruments for assessing attitudes and beliefs of students, and explores assessment methods teachers can use to gauge students' dispositions regarding statistics.

The CAUSE Research Group is supported in part by a member initiative grant from the American Statistical Association’s Section on Statistics and Data Science Education

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