ANALYSIS OF INTEREST AND KNOWLEDGE IN STATISTICS AND SCIENTIFIC METHODS AMONG MATHEMATICS UNDERGRADUATES

Abstract

The aim was to analyze knowledge and perception of students in the Mathematics degree about scientific methods and statistics. The sample consisted of 50 students. They responded to a questionnaire containing questions about statistics and scientific methods. The frequency of responses was analyzed considering the semester of enrollment, comparing students from the 1st and 4th semesters with those from the 5th and 8th, as well as considering gender, comparing men and women. The association between the variables was analyzed. Most students reported that they were unfamiliar with books (80% from the 1st to 4th and 74.3% from the 5th to 8th semester) and statistical software (73.3% from the 1st to 4th and 65.7% from the 5th to 8th), as well as lack of knowledge about the P value (53.3% from the 1st to the 4th and 68.6% from the 5th to the 8th). An association between sex and knowledge of data analysis software was observed (χ² = 3.91; P = 0.048), so that men are more likely to know software of this type. It is concluded that there are gaps in the participants' knowledge about the topics covered. Teaching/learning actions are important to solidify training in scientific methods and statistics.