The Math-Biology Values Instrument: Development of a Tool to Measure Life Science Majors' Task Values of Using Math...

Area of Science:

• Educational Psychology
• Quantitative Biology Education

Background:

• Calls to enhance quantitative training for undergraduate biology students necessitate better math integration into curricula.
• Negative student attitudes toward math, particularly among biology students, pose a significant challenge to this integration.
• Student personal values regarding math in biology are theorized to influence academic achievement and career choices, but a validated measurement tool is lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate the Math-Biology Values Instrument (MBVI), a self-report measure assessing life science students' values toward math in biology.
• To empirically investigate the relationship between math-biology values and student outcomes using a validated instrument.

Main Methods:

• Development of the 11-item Math-Biology Values Instrument (MBVI) based on expectancy-value theory.
• Application of a multi-faceted validity evidence process to confirm the instrument's reliability and accuracy.
• The instrument measures students' interest in using math for biology, perceived career usefulness, and perceived costs of using math in biology.

Main Results:

• The study provides evidence supporting the MBVI as a valid instrument for measuring students' values concerning math in biological contexts.
• Scores from the MBVI reliably reflect students' valuation of mathematics within their life science studies.

Conclusions:

• The MBVI is a valuable tool for educators and researchers aiming to improve math-biology education.
• It can be used to identify instructional strategies that positively impact math-biology values.
• The instrument aids in understanding how these values relate to student achievement and decisions regarding advanced quantitative coursework.