Variables contributing to academic success in an intermediate statistics course: the importance of learned resourcefulness |
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| Authors: | Deborah Kennett Anna May Young Maria Catanzaro |
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| Institution: | Department of Psychology , Trent University , Peterborough , Ontario , K9J 7B8 , Canada |
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| Abstract: | We examined the variables contributing to statistical anxiety, statistical resourcefulness and grades in an intermediate statistics course. Questionnaires assessing the aforementioned variables, as well as general resourcefulness, statistical self‐efficacy and attitudes, and grade goals were completed by 168 students in September and in January. Our findings revealed that students possessing a larger repertoire of general resourcefulness skills and higher statistical self‐efficacy were more likely to rely on statistical self‐control strategies, and, as a result, attain higher grades. Students having higher statistical test anxiety were not only less generally and statistically resourceful, but they were also more likely to be aiming for lower grades and attributing past performance disappointments to lack of ability and task difficulty. |
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| Keywords: | general and statistical resourcefulness self‐efficacy attitudes grade goals statistical test anxiety |
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