Assessing Quantitative Reasoning: What Do Freshmen Know?

• Activity Number: 222
• Type: Topic Contributed
• Date/Time: Monday, August 1, 2011 : 2:00 PM to 3:50 PM
• Sponsor: Section on Statistical Education
• Author(s): Ermine Faith Orta*+ and Nandini Kannan and Kimberly Massaro
• Companies: The University of Texas at San Antonio and The University of Texas at San Antonio and The University of Texas at San Antonio
• Keywords: Assessment ; Quantitative Reasoning ; Instrument ; Factor Analysis

Abstract

The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) is one of the fastest growing public universities in the state with a student population that includes a large number of historically underserved students. UTSA has developed a comprehensive plan to integrate quantitative reasoning across the core curriculum. An instrument was developed to assess the baseline quantitative literacy levels of incoming freshmen. Items on the instrument test a student's working knowledge of simple probability, interpreting data summaries, and interpreting graphs and charts. Items on the instrument map to well-defined quantitative learning outcomes. Student performance on the instrument is grouped into three categories; at or below basic, intermediate, and proficient. Comparisons across gender and ethnicity will be discussed. In addition, performance on the assessment will be compared to student performance on SAT