P1-07: Effects of a Summer Statistics Refresher Boot Camp

Abstract

The effect of a three-day, zero-credit summer statistics boot camp (i.e., bridge course) on post-secondary school students’ basic statistics knowledge and statistics self-efficacy was examined. Data were collected from students enrolled in an intermediate inferential statistics course. Basic statistics knowledge and statistics self-efficacy were compared between those who attended the boot camp and those who did not. Knowledge and self-efficacy assessments were administered to boot camp attendees pre-boot camp, pre-course (post-boot camp), and post-course. The assessments were also administered to non-boot camp participants pre-course and post-course. Boot camp attendees’ basic statistic knowledge and self-efficacy increased from pre-boot camp to pre-course. Students who did not attend the boot camp began the course (pre-course) with lower average knowledge and self-efficacy than those who did attend (pre-course). This difference dissipated by the end of the intermediate inferential statistics course (post-course). However, non-boot camp participants’ initial self-efficacy (pre-course) was markedly higher than participants’ initial self-efficacy (pre-boot camp). Implications about the effectiveness of the boot camp are discussed.