Statistics anxiety, basic mathematics skills and academic performance among undergraduate psychology students

Statistics anxiety is a perennial problem among social science students who are faced with statistics as a programme requirement. At one Department of Psychology in Malaysia, the failure rates for a statistics course, across six semesters spanning 2010 to 2013, were the highest compared to other undergraduate courses. Thus, this study attempts to investigate the relationship between statistics anxiety, basic mathematics skills and academic performance among undergraduate psychology students. A survey that included an adapted Statistics Anxiety Scale (SAS) and basic mathematic skills were distributed to the students at the beginning of the semester. Academic performance was measured through mid-semester examination and three quizzes. Scores from 80 students was analysed by linear regression analysis. The adapted SAS had adequate reliability, Cronbach alpha = .946. It was found that both mathematics skills scores and statistics anxiety scores are significant predictors of the overall academic performance. The resulting regression equation was significant, F(2,77)=14.255, p<.001, R2=.270. The results of the study confirmed that academic performance was negatively correlated with statistics anxiety and positively correlated with basic mathematics scores. The SAS can be used for assessing students’ anxiety as part of class intervention, but its factor structure needs further investigation

Factor structure of Statistical Anxiety Scale (SAS) for a Malaysian sample

A negative relationship between statistics anxiety and performance in statistics course had been demonstrated among Malaysian students, but the factor structure of the anxiety measure had not been examined. This paper seeks to examine the factor structure of Statistical Anxiety Scale (SAS) in Malaysian samples. The scale was administered to 342 undergraduate students who took Introduction to Psychology course at a Malaysia university. Principal axis factor with Promax rotation revealed five factor solution and confirmatory factor analysis was performed in AMOS. The analysis produced a four factor model and an independent variable that fit the data. This divergence from the original three factor structure is worth exploring

Statistics anxiety and achievement in a statistics course among psychology students

Learning of statistics presents a challenge to psychology students whose background in mathematics is not strong. The percentage of students who failed Statistics course at the Department of Psychology in one university in Malaysia is of concern. A survey that included a measure of statistics anxiety was conducted at the beginning of a semester among students taking a statistics course. Performance measures included a basic mathematic review quiz, continuous assessment mark, final examination marks, and total marks. The course was divided into three sections, all taught by the same instructor. Scores from 139 students were used in the analysis. Statistics anxiety and attitude towards statistics are not significantly correlated and both are not related to the total marks. The mathematics quiz score is a significant predictor of total marks. The instrument for measuring pre-course mathematics ability could be used in class as part of the teaching strategy to improve students‟ learning experience

Factor structure of Statistics Anxiety Rating Scale (STARs): EFA and CFA using Malaysian undergraduate psychology students

Statistics courses are very important for social science students in understanding and analyzing research. Many students felt that statistics course is not applicable for undergraduate study except for pursuing postgraduate degrees. A study conducted in a Malaysian university found a negative relationship between anxiety and academic performance (Abd Hamid HS, Sulaiman MK, Int J Behav Sci 9(1):55–66, 2014a). However, the factor structure of the anxiety measure (STARs) had not been examined for Malaysian sample. This paper seeks to examine the factor structure of STARs which was reported to have six factors (Worth of Statistics, Interpretation Anxiety, Test and Class Anxiety, Computational Self-concept, Fear of Asking for Help, and Fear of Statistics Teachers) measured by 51 items. The scale was distributed to 132 undergraduate psychology students (26 males, 106 females) who took Psychological Statistics course. Exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were performed using SPSS and in AMOS respectively. The resulting model comprises five factors with 27 items. The six factors were not successfully replicated in the Malaysian sample; notably, the Interpretation Anxiety is missing. The findings are discussed in relation to the factor structure of another measure (Statistical Anxiety Scale) which was also tested in a Malaysian Sample (Abd Hamid HS, Sulaiman MK, Statistics anxiety, basic mathematics skills and academic performance among undergraduate psychology students. In Proceedings of the Asian conference on psychology & the behavioral sciences, 28–30 Mar 2014, Osaka, Japan, pp 452–463, 2014b)

Persepsi masyarakat terhadap produk buatan penjara

Jabatan Penjara Malaysia sebagai sebuah institusi koreksional bertanggungjawab untuk memulihkan banduan menjadi insan yang bermanfaat serta patuh kepada undang-undang apabila mereka kembali ke pangkuan masyarakat. Melalui program latihan kemahiran yang dilaksanakan, hasil tangan penghuni penjara telah dipasarkan di bawah jenama My Pride. Data yang diperolehi dari Seksyen Vokasional dan Latihan Industri, Jabatan Penjara Malaysia menunjukkan jualan produk My Pride menyumbang sekitar 25 peratus daripada nilai perolehan keseluruhan Jabatan Penjara. Oleh yang demikian, kajian ini bertujuan untuk melihat potensi produk keluaran penjara yang dikategorikan kepada pembuatan, makanan, fabrik dan perkhidmatan agar dapat dipasarkan dengan lebih meluas dan berkesan. Melalui soal selidik, 612 data dari responden yang terdiri daripada pengguna dan bukan pengguna produk penjara telah dianalisis. Dapatan menunjukkan majoriti pengguna produk My Pride adalah kakitangan Jabatan Penjara sendiri. Bagi masyarakat awam, mereka menunjukkan sikap yang positif terhadap produk keluaran penjara di sebalik hakikat bahawa produk tersebut dihasilkan oleh banduan. Bagaimanapun, mereka belum menggunakan produk penjara kerana tiada pengetahuan tentang produk My Pride serta tidak tahu di mana mereka boleh mendapatkannya. Cadangan agar pihak penjara memperkukuhkan strategi pemasaran, terutamanya kepada masyarakat awam juga turut dibincangkan

Psychometric properties of the English version of DASS in a sample of Malaysian nurses

The Malay version of DASS (Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale) had been tested with samples in the general and clinical population in Malaysia. However, this Malay version was found to have lower sub-scales reliabilities than the comparable English version tested in a non-Malaysian sample. Additionally, the translators observed that there are no cultural-specific issues regarding the scale. Therefore, the English version of DASS might be more appropriate to be used in the Malaysian private hospitals where the use of English is widespread. This study examines the original English version of DASS in a sample of 521 nurses in private hospitals in the Klang Valley area. The psychometric properties will be examined using a measurement model in AMOS. The steps involved are examination of the unidimensionality of the subscales, reliability (alpha Cronbach and AVE), and validity (AVE, Fitness Indices, and Modification Indices). The findings are discussed in terms of the use of different languages in psychological testing

IIUM TRACER STUDY 2016

The main aim of IIUM Tracer Study 2016 is to complement the study conducted by the Ministry of Higher Education (or IIUM Tracer Study 2016: First Degree and Post Graduates). It aims to study the perception of IIUM graduates 2016 towards graduates towards advantages and disadvantages of Studying at IIUM. Besides that, it also includes the IIUM graduates’ suggestions for Departments, Kulliyyah, Mahallah, and University level. Based on the suggestion, it highlighted several issues that need to be improved at all management in IIUM. The IIUM TS 2016 also present graduates’ suggestion to improve the quality of teaching and learning. The suggestions include for quality improvement of programmes pursued, increasing relevance of programmes to industrial needs, and producing competent and more employable graduates. This Tracer Study report maintains particular methodological procedures in obtaining the information about the graduates (Class of 2016). Below are some elaborations about the procedures. A total of 4493 graduates responded to this study that comprised both of first degree graduates and postgraduates. Their responses were received within one month prior to their convocation. The IIUM Tracer Study questionnaire was made up of two sections assessing various dimensions. Section A contains open ended questions, measuring graduates’ views on the advantages and disadvantages while studying at IIUM. Likewise, Section B allows graduates to write their suggestions to improve the quality of teaching and learning in the institution. Both section A and B uses combined questions of dichotomies and adopts open-ended questions

IIUM tracer study 2016 follow up

The IIUM Tracer Study 2016: Follow Up is the third report of the Tracer Study 2016 project conducted by the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) under the purview of the Alumni and Global Network Division (AGND). This project is a substantial initiative and effort by AGND that receives a strong support from the University to publish a well comprehensive quantitative data report about IIUM’s graduates in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE). The objective of the survey is to update the employment status of IIUM graduates (Class of 2016). The data was collection 6-months after their graduation (May – October 2017). A total of 4,481 graduates participated in the study, involving 3,815 First Degree graduates and 666 Postgraduate. The respondents for the study were the graduates of the 32nd IIUM Convocation. They include; 1. Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah of Laws (AIKOL), 2. IIUM Institute of Islamic Banking and Finance (IIiBF), 3. International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilisation (ISTAC), 4. International Institute for Halal Research and Training (INHART) 5. Kulliyyah of Allied Health Science (KAHS), 6. Kulliyyah of Architecture and Environmental Design (KAED), 7. Kulliyyah of Dentistry (KOD), 8. Kulliyyah of Engineering (KOE), 9. Kulliyyah of Economics and Management (KENMS), 10. Kulliyyah of Education (KOED), 11. Kulliyyah of Information and Communication Technology (KICT), 12. Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences (KIRKHS), 13. Kulliyyah of Language and Management (KLM) 14. Kulliyyah of Medicine (KOM), 15. Kulliyyah of Nursing (KON), 16. Kulliyyah of Pharmacy (KOP), and 17. Kulliyyah of Science (KOS). Given that the Tracer Study series have yielded important employment related findings and facts that provide useful information to the University in particular and the nation in general, it is hoped that this particular Report will continue to provide useful, comprehensive and exhaustive information to all, particularly to IIUM and MOHE