“Assessing Quantitative Literacy Needs across the University”
M. Paul Latiolais, Allan Collins, Zahra Baloch, David Loewi
Portland State University
Portland State University
Quantitative Literacy Survey
Assessment
Resource Network
Quantitative Literacy Research Team
General Instructions:
The purpose of this survey is to explore attitudes students have towards
math and its relevance outside of the classroom.
Remember that this is an anonymous survey and that you are under no obligation
to answer these questions.
Please answer the questions to the best of your ability and knowledge.
Please give only one answer to each question.
In addition to your opinion about your program, we would like your feedback
about the wording of the items or the format of the survey. Please write any
comments you have about the questions next to the question or on the back of
the survey.
THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING!
DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION
1. What is your major?
2. How many credits do you have in your major?
3. Did you transfer to PSU from another school? (circle one)
Yes No
4. Do you plan on finishing your degree at PSU? (circle one)
Yes No
5. Are you an: (circle one)
Undergraduate (e.g., B.A., B.S.)
Graduate (e.g., M.A, M.S., Ph.D.)
Post-Baccalaureate Student
Other (please specify)___________________
6. What is your GPA? _________
7. What is your employment status: (circle one)
Not Working 0-19 hrs/week
20+ hrs/week
8. Gender: Male Female
9. Ethnic Origin: (circle all that apply):
White (Non-Hispanic), Asian/Pacific Islander, Black (Non-Hispanic),
Hispanic,
Native American, Multiple Ethnicities
10. What is your age?
Section A: Attitude Towards Quantitative Literacy
Quantitative Literacy: Mathematical skills that students use in
the context of communicating ideas, either receiving information, providing
information or making and communicating conclusions from data.
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Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with each
of the following statements by checking the box corresponding to your
answer.
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Strongly Disagree
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Disagree
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Neutral
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Agree
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Strongly
Agree
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1
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Quantitative literacy is important to my major.
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1.
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2.
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3.
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4.
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5.
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2
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I understand what quantitative literacy means.
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2.
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3.
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5.
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3
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QL is important in my daily activities.
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3.
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5.
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4
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I find myself applying QL in courses outside of my major.
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3.
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5
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Having QL skills is important for my career.
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6
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I have a good attitude towards math.
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Section B: Confidence with Mathematics:
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Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with each of
the following statements by checking the box corresponding to your answer.
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Strongly Disagree
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Disagree
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Neutral
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Agree
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Strongly
Agree
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1
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I am comfortable taking math classes.
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2
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Math scares me.
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3
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I can use math as a communication tool.
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4
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I recognize that math skills are important outside of “math classes.”
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5
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I routinely use mental estimates to interpret information.
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6
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I enjoy math.
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7
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I often take courses that contain a lot of Math.
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8
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I am comfortable with quantitative ideas.
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9
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I am at ease in applying quantitative methods.
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10
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I have good intuition about the meaning of numbers.
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11
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I am confident about my estimating skills.
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Section C: Cultural Appreciation
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Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with each
of the following statements by checking the box corresponding to your
answer.
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Strongly Disagree
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Disagree
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Neutral
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Agree
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Strongly
Agree
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1
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Math is important.
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2
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Math plays an important role in science.
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3
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Math plays an important role in technology.
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Math helps me to make sense of current events.
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5
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I am aware of the origins of mathematics.
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Section D: Logical Thinking and Reasoning
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Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with each
of the following statements by checking the box corresponding to your
answer.
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Strongly Disagree
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Disagree
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Neutral
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Agree
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Strongly
Agree
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1
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I am comfortable reading graphs.
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2
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I am comfortable reading maps.
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3
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I often use math to evaluate statistical information.
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4
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I use math to evaluate the validity of poll results (e.g., political
polls).
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5
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I frequently question numerical information (e.g., graphs, tables, charts,)
from various sources.
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I am confident in my ability to construct a logical argument.
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Section E: Prerequisite Knowledge and Symbol Sense:
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Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with each
of the following statements by checking the box corresponding to your
answer.
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Strongly Disagree
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Disagree
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Neutral
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Agree
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Strongly
Agree
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1
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I am confident using Excel or other statistical software.
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2
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I am confident reading proofs.
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I enjoy writing proofs.
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I can interpret math proofs easily.
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Section F: Statistical Knowledge
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Please indicate the extent to which you agree or disagree with each
of the following statements by checking the box corresponding to your
answer.
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Strongly Disagree
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Disagree
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Neutral
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Agree
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Strongly
Agree
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1
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I am comfortable with statistics.
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2
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I understand what the term data means.
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3
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I am able to use data to interpret the validity of information.
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4
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I am confident in my ability to use visual displays to interpret differences
in data distributions.
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5
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I can use statistics as a tool to compare differences between populations.
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6
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I am able to think about information in terms of numbers for the purpose
of supporting claims.
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Appendix C
Figure 1: Mean Response by Gender 5 Confidence w/ Mathematics Items
Figure 2: Mean Response by Gender on 3 Logical Thinking & Reasoning
Items
Figure 3: Mean Response by Grouped Age on Item: “thinking in terms of
numbers to support claims.”
Figure 4 : Mean Rsponse by Gender on Item “aware of
the origins of mathematics .”
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