SAUM Additional Online Case Studies & Appendices

An Assessment of General Education Mathematics Courses Contribution to
Quantitative Literacy at Virginia Commonwealth University

Appendix B

Table 1:  Breakdown of Questions by Quantitative Literacy Topic

Topic

  

Question Number

Unit Analysis

  

1, 7, 9, 13

Interpretation of Charts and Graphs

  

2, 6, 10

Proportional Reasoning

  

7, 13

Counting Principles

  

8

General Percents

  

3, 6, 11

Percent Increase or Decrease

  

4, 12, 14

Use of Mathematical Formulas

  

1, 5, 9, 12, 15, 16

Average

  

16

Exponential Growth

  

12

Table 2: Number of Student Responses by Question

Test Version

  

All Classes

  

Math 131
 

Placement Test

  

Final Exam

  

Placement Test

  

Final Exam

1

Questions 1 – 4

  

452

  

489

  

131

  

126

2

Questions 5 – 8

  

551

  

454

  

158

  

127

3

Questions 9 – 12

 

506

  

520

  

140

  

157

4

Questions 13 – 16

  

449

  

495

  

125

  

144

Table 3:  Percentage of Correct Responses for All Four Courses

Question Number

Placement Test

Final Exam

  

Question Number

Placement Test

Final Exam

1

34.96

45.60*

  

9

29.11

42.69*

2

84.73

     81.80

  

10

11.07

17.88*

3

25.44

33.95*

  

11

63.17

75.19*

4

24.78

39.26*

  

12

22.73

42.88*

5

30.67

42.29*

  

13

58.48

65.25*

6

38.48

46.26*

  

14

15.85

     18.18

7

13.25

     16.52

  

15

65.70

86.26*

8

24.14

44.49*

  

16

41.87

63.23*

* Significantly larger percentage, p < .05

 

Table 4:  Percentage of Correct Responses for Math 131, Contemporary Mathematics

Question Number

Placement Test

Final Exam

  

Question Number

Placement Test

Final Exam

1

35.11

     31.75

  

9

26.43

      36.31*

2

82.44

     78.57

  

10

        8.57

      12.10

3

19.85

     25.40

  

11

58.57

76.43*

4

19.08

     25.40

  

12

15.00

38.85*

5

26.58

37.80*

  

13

43.55

      58.33*

6

30.38

     35.43

  

14

16.00

      15.97*

7

        9.49

     11.02

  

15

53.60

77.08*

8

22.15

37.80*

  

16

36.00

58.33*

* Significantly larger percentage, p < .05