Journal of Shandong University (Health Sciences) ›› 2020, Vol. 58 ›› Issue (11): 109-114.doi: 10.6040/j.issn.1671-7554.0.2020.1115

Previous Articles     Next Articles

Survey of medical students attitudes toward statistics and analysis of influencing factors

LIU Yumei1,2, YUAN Zhongshang1, SUN Xiubin1, LI Xiujun1, WANG Shukang1, LIU Jing1   

  1. 1. School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, Shandong, China;
    2. Shandong Mental Health Center, Jinan 250014, Shandong, China
  • Published:2020-11-04

PDF (PC)

486

Abstract: Objective To investigate medical students attitudes toward statistics, explore the influencing factors, and to explore the correlation between attitudes and course performance, so as to provide reference for teaching reform and to improve teaching effect. Methods Medical students registered for medical statistics during the academic year of 2018-2019 in a comprehensive university were surveyed with the Chinese version of Scale of Attitudes Toward Statistics(SATS-36). The items in the scale were scored with Likert 7-point method. Higher scores meant more positive attitude. The data were collected with online questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS 25.0 software. Results A total of 776 students completed the survey, and the mean score of scale was 4.84±0.64. The mean score of effort dimension(6.41±0.85)was the highest, followed by the dimension of value(5.93±0.88), and the dimension of difficulty had the lowest mean score(2.73±0.77). Gender, education level, major and self-evaluation of mathematical ability influenced students attitudes toward statistics. Male students had more positive attitudes than female students, and postgraduates were more positive than undergraduates. Students who majored in public health or clinical medicine were more positive than students in other majors. Higher self-evaluation of mathematical ability was associated with more positive attitude. There was a positive correlation between course performance and attitudes, but the correlation was weak(Spearman correlation coefficient was 0.227, P<0.001). Conclusion Medical students attitudes toward statistics were fairly positive, especially in terms of effort and value dimensions. However, statistics was widely considered difficult. The attitudes were positively correlated with course performance. In the teaching process of medical statistics, teachers should pay more attention to students emotion and cater to students individual needs.

Key words: Medical statistics, Attitudes toward statistics, Influencing factors

CLC Number: 

  • R195.1
[1] Judi HM, Ashaari NS, Mohamed H, et al. Students profile based on attitude towards statistics[J]. Procedia-Soc Behav Sci, 2011, 18: 266-272. doi: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2011.05.038.
[2] Chowdhury SK. Prior knowledge, sex and students attitude towards statistics: a study on postgraduate education students[J]. Am Educ Res J, 2018, 6(3): 270-276.
[3] Mustam AA, Adnan M, Johnny J, et al. Attitude towards statistics among pre-service teachers of institute of teacher education[J]. J Phys:Conf Ser, 2020,1521: 032011. doi: 10.1088/1742-6596/1521/3/032011.
[4] Beurze SM, Donders ART, Zielhuis GA, et al. Statistics anxiety: a barrier for education in research methodology for medical students?[J]. MedSciEduc, 2013, 23(3): 377-384.
[5] Freeman JV, Collier S, Staniforth D, et al. Innovations in curriculum design: a multi-disciplinary approach to teaching statistics to undergraduate medical students[J]. BMC Med Educ, 2008, 8: 28. doi:10.1186/1472-6920-8-28.
[6] Hanna D, Shevlin M, Dempster M, et al. The structure of the statistics anxiety rating scale: a confirmatory factor analysis using UK psychology students[J]. Pers Individ Differ, 2008, 45(1): 68-74. doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2008.02.021.
[7] Gal I, Ginsburg L, Schau C, et al. Monitoring attitudes and beliefs in statistics education [M]. Amsterdam, IOS Press, 1997: 37-51.
[8] Roberts DM, Saxe JE. Validity of a statistics attitude survey: a follow-up study[J]. Educ Psychol Meas, 1982, 42(3): 907-912.
[9] Wise SL. The development and validation of a scale measuring attitudes toward statistics[J]. Educ Psychol Meas, 1985, 45(2): 401-405.
[10] Schau C, Stevens J, Dauphine TL, et al. The development and validation of the survey of antitudes toward statistics[J]. Educ Psychol Meas, 1995, 55(5): 868-875.
[11] Schau C. Students attitudes: the “other” important outcome in statistics education [C]. Albuquerque, NM United States: Joint Statistical Meetings-Section on Statistical Education, 2003.
[12] Khavenson T, Orel E, Tryakshina M. Adaptation of survey of attitudes towards statistics(SATS 36)for Russian sample[J]. Procedia-Soc Behav Sci, 2012, 46: 2126-2129. doi: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.05.440.
[13] Schou, Sue B. A study of student attitudes and performance in an online introductory business statistics class[J]. Electronic Journal for the Integration of Technology in Education, 2006, 6(1): 71-78.
[14] Tempelaar DT, Loeff SSVD, Gijselaers WH. A structural equation model analyzing the relationship of students attitudes toward statistics, prior reasoning abilities, and course performance[J]. Stat Educ Res J, 2007, 6(2): 78-102.
[15] Chiesi F, Primi C. Assessing statistics attitudes among college students: psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Survey of Attitudes toward Statistics(SATS)[J]. Learn Individ Differ, 2009, 19(2): 309-313.
[16] Kiekkas P, Panagiotarou A, Malja A, et al. Nursing students attitudes toward statistics: effect of a biostatistics course and association with examination performance[J]. Nurse Educ Today, 2015, 35(12): 1283-1288.
[17] Zhang Y, Shang L, Wang R, et al. Attitudes toward statistics in medical postgraduates: measuring, evaluating and monitoring[J]. BMC Med Educ, 2012, 12: 117. doi: 10.1186/1472-6920-12-117.
[18] Bechrakis T, Gialamas V, Barkatsas A. Survey of attitudes toward statistics(SATS): an investigation of its construct validity and its factor invariance by gender[J]. International Journal of Theoretical Educational Practice, 2011, 1(1): 1-15.
[19] Hilton SC, Schau C, Olsen JA. Survey of attitudes toward statistics: factor structure invariance by gender and by administration time[J]. Struct Equ Model: A Multidiscip J, 2004, 11(1): 92-109.
[20] Onwuegbuzie AJ. Modeling statistics achievement among graduate students[J]. Educ Psychol Meas, 2003, 63(6): 1020-1038.
[21] Carmona J, Martínez RJ, Sánchez M. Mathematical background and attitudes toward statistics in a sample of Spanish college students[J]. Psychol Rep, 2005, 97(1): 53-62.
[22] Carmichael C, Callingham R, Watson J, et al. Factors influencing the development of middle school students interest in statistical literacy[J]. Stat Educ Res J, 2009, 8(1): 62-81.
[23] Artino AR, Holmboe ES, Durning SJ, et al. Can achievement emotions be used to better understand motivation, learning, and performance in medical education?[J]. Med Teach, 2012, 34(3): 240-244.
[24] 王陵, 李婵娟, 夏结来, 等. 医学研究生对医学统计学的认知态度、教学感受和应用需求调查分析[J]. 中国卫生统计, 2015, 32(3): 396-400. WANG Ling, LI Chanjuan, XIA Jielai, et al. Attitudes survey of medical postgraduates toward medical statistics and relative influence factors analysis[J]. Chinese Journal of Health Statistics, 2015, 32(3): 396-400.
[25] 胡晗, 李晨, 王陵, 等. 医学生医学统计学相关认知态度影响因素分析[J]. 中国医院统计, 2015, 22(2): 98-101. HU Han, LI Chen, WANG Ling, et al. Influence factor analysis of medical undergraduates attitudes toward medical statistics[J]. Chinese Journal of Hospital Statistics, 2015, 22(2): 98-101.
[26] Mills JD. Students attitudes toward statistics: Implications for the future[J]. Coll Stud J, 2004, 38(3): 349-361.
[27] Emmioglu E, Capa-Aydin Y. Attitudes and achievement in statistics: a meta-analysis study[J]. Stat Educ Res J, 2012, 11(2): 95-102.
[1] LI Jiangbing, SONG Xinhong, LIN Haiyan, ZHANG Dongzhi, LI Xiangyi, XU Yibo, WANG Li, XUE Fuzhong. The influencing factors of ischemic ECG abnormalities in a large health check-up population [J]. JOURNAL OF SHANDONG UNIVERSITY (HEALTH SCIENCES), 2017, 55(6): 77-81.
[2] GAI Linlin, GUAN Lixue, LI Haibo, CHU Jinjin, ZHU Yun, LI Ming. Screening results and influencing factors of T-SPOT.TB assay in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases [J]. JOURNAL OF SHANDONG UNIVERSITY (HEALTH SCIENCES), 2016, 54(6): 82-86.
[3] HONG Haijie, SUN Wenjuan, ZHANG Yuan, XU Yongping. Influencing factors of adverse outcomesin term neonates delivered by elective caesarean [J]. JOURNAL OF SHANDONG UNIVERSITY (HEALTH SCIENCES), 2016, 54(5): 56-61.
[4] DING Lilu, SUN Qiang. Path analysis for influencing factors of the total health expenditure of China [J]. JOURNAL OF SHANDONG UNIVERSITY (HEALTH SCIENCES), 2015, 53(12): 86-89.
[5] GUO Bin, WANG Xinhai, XU Lingzhong, GAI Ruoyan. Mental health status and influencing factors in preschoolers in rural areas of Shandong Province [J]. JOURNAL OF SHANDONG UNIVERSITY (HEALTH SCIENCES), 2015, 53(1): 87-92.
[6] LI Jianzhuo, JIN Yan, YANG Hui, LI Xinrui, HU Yanxia, ZHANG Changqing, ZHU Yanwen, RUAN Shiman. Influencing factors of drug treatment compliance among patients with HIV/AIDS in Jinan city of China [J]. JOURNAL OF SHANDONG UNIVERSITY (HEALTH SCIENCES), 2014, 52(3): 106-110.
[7] LI Ming1, YANG Hua2, GAO Qian-qian1, LI Shi-xue1. Analysis of burden of family long-term caregivers for disabled elders in Jinan city and influencing factors [J]. JOURNAL OF SHANDONG UNIVERSITY (HEALTH SCIENCES), 2013, 51(9): 109-112.
[8] ZHOU Yan1, GUO Li-xin1, ZHOU Lu2, WANG Yao1, MOU Zhong-qing1, WANG Xiao-xia1, YU Dong-ni1， ZHANG Li-na1. Factors influencing diabetic peripheral neuropathy in
elderly type 2 diabetic patients [J]. JOURNAL OF SHANDONG UNIVERSITY (HEALTH SCIENCES), 2012, 50(6): 1-4.
[9] WANG Jing-chen1,2, YUAN Miao2, LIU Guang-li2， FENG Hao2， RONG Feng-nian2. Effects of pregnancy and childbirth on female pelvic  support floor [J]. JOURNAL OF SHANDONG UNIVERSITY (HEALTH SCIENCES), 2012, 50(12): 82-86.
[10] ZHAO Xiu-xiu, XU Ling-zhong, GUO Zhen, YANG Ping. Analysis on diagnostic delay of tuberculosis patients and
its influencing factors [J]. JOURNAL OF SHANDONG UNIVERSITY (HEALTH SCIENCES), 2012, 50(11): 122-125.
[11] WU Ji-wei1, DONG Mao-jiang1， ZHANG Ming-xia2. Prevalence of hypotension and its relativity with chronic diseases
in insured staffs in the town of Dezhou city [J]. JOURNAL OF SHANDONG UNIVERSITY (HEALTH SCIENCES), 2012, 50(10): 127-129.
[12] LI Zhe1, YANG Ping2. Cognition level of law of the medical staff in Weihai and its related factors [J]. JOURNAL OF SHANDONG UNIVERSITY (HEALTH SCIENCES), 2011, 49(3): 115-119.
[13] LI Zhe1, YANG Ping2. Cognition level of law of the medical staff in Weihai and its related factors [J]. JOURNAL OF SHANDONG UNIVERSITY (HEALTH SCIENCES), 2011, 49(3): 115-119.
[14] BI Hong-sheng1, PAN Hua-wei2, LIU Li1, SHA Xiao-juan4,. Coping style and the related factors in  patients with diabetes and diabetic retinopathy [J]. JOURNAL OF SHANDONG UNIVERSITY (HEALTH SCIENCES), 2011, 49(10): 146-149.
[15] WU Min1, LI Shi-xue1, NING Jackie Zhang2, ZHU Ai-ai1, NING Bo1, Thomas Wan2, Lynn Unruh2. An analysis of individual and contextual factors of  mental health for the elderly [J]. JOURNAL OF SHANDONG UNIVERSITY (HEALTH SCIENCES), 2011, 49(1): 120-123.
Viewed
Full text


Abstract

Cited
  Shared   
  Discussed   
No Suggested Reading articles found!
Copyright 2018 © Editorial office of Journal of Shandong University (Health Sciences)
Supported by Beijing Magtech Co.Ltd