Analysis of senior high school students’ statistical literacy, attitudes towards statistics and their relationship.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze the statistical literacy of Senior High School students, attitude towards statistics and their relationship. The study was conducted in Kade Senior High Technical School in the Denkyembour District of the Eastern Region of Ghana. Descriptive Research that employs the Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Design was used. A statistical literacy test and attitude towards statistics questionnaire was used to collect data from 180 randomly selected respondents of final year students from Kade Senior High Technical School, in the Eastern Region of Ghana. A one sample T test, One way Analysis of variance and Pearson Product Moment correlation analysis was used to analyze the data. Data analysis revealed a low mean percentage test score (37%) and the low passing rate (38%) which indicated that the level of students’ knowledge in statistics was low. Also an overall students responds to attitude towards statistics questionnaire revealed that, only 29% of 180 participants responded positively to the items in the questionnaire, this shows that generally students have negative attitude towards the teaching and learning of statistics. The study also found a positive relationship between students’ attitude towards statistics and their performance in the statistical literacy test. The findings of this study revealed that final year SHS students had performed relatively low in statistical literacy. Mathematics teachers should have adequate knowledge in statistics so as to employ appropriate instructional methods to develop students’ statistical literacy.