Undergraduate students' attitudes toward statistics in an introductory statistics class

Students attitudes influence their performance, beliefs, and behavior in classes, especially in terms of motivation and achievement. It is, therefore, important that we monitor and attempt to improve the attitudes of statistics students toward statistics in the classroom. Four instruments designed to assess attitudes toward statistics have reasonable reliability and validity evidence: Statistics Attitude Survey, Attitude toward Statistics, and the two versions of the Survey of Attitudes toward Statistics. These instruments are compared and then UGA students responses to the SATS-28 Pre and their achievement in STAT 2000 are examined. Our research goal is to see whether the students pre-course SATS-28 scores are associated with the students achievement. We consider the relationship between the SATS-28 Pre score and the total test points. Additionally, we analyze qualitative data that indicate why students have positive or negative attitudes toward statistics. We conclude with suggestions for improving attitudes among STAT 2000 students.