An investigation into undergraduate student's difficulties in learning the bivariate normal distribution : a case of a Kenyan university
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Authors
Onyancha, Nyambane Bosire
Issue Date
2017-03
Type
Dissertation
Language
en
Keywords
Bivariate normal distribution , Difficulties in learning , Kenyan university , Normal distribution , Probability , Statistics
Alternative Title
Abstract
The low grades that students score in some statistical units in Kenyan universities is of great
concern and has evoked research interest in the teaching of some of the units and the students’
learning of the statistical content.
The aim of the study was to investigate the difficulties undergraduate students experience in
the learning of bivariate normal distribution in a Kenyan university. The research also aimed
to answer the following research questions on the difficulties undergraduate students
encounter in the learning of bivariate normal distribution.
The first research question was based on the reasons why students find learning of bivariate
normal distribution difficult and the second research question was to find the reasons why
students experience such difficulties in learning bivariate normal distribution.
The target population for this study included lecturers teaching statistics in the university, and
second- and third- year students enrolled or who have previously completed the probability
and statistics III unit, where the bivariate normal distribution content is covered. In selecting
students for the study, the simple random sampling technique was employed while convenient
sampling was used to select lecturers who participated in the study.
A mixed methods design was adopted for this study where both quantitative and qualitative
data was collected. A total of 175 students and six lecturers participated in this research study.
All students who participated in the study did a bivariate normal distribution test (Appendix
1) designed by the researcher and then filled in a questionnaire (Appendix 2). The lecturers
who participated in the study filled in an open-ended questionnaire (Appendix 3).
The results showed that undergraduate students have difficulties in learning bivariate normal
distribution. This is because most of them could neither state the bivariate normal distribution
nor solve any of the application questions on the content. The students find it difficult to learn
and comprehend the bivariate normal distribution equation with its many parameters and constants of the two random independent variables.
The results also showed that students could not state the normal distribution equation nor
could they solve questions on the normal distribution, which forms the foundational
knowledge required for effective learning of the bivariate normal distribution content.
ii
Based on the results, the study recommended that emphasis should be placed on the basic and
foundational knowledge of the normal distribution content and its applications before teaching
bivariate normal distribution in probability and statistics III. In addition, it is recommended
that all students should be involved in the learning of basic content to enable them to
understand all parameters and constants in the equations and their applications. The study also
recommends that lecturers revise the foundational knowledge and content related to the
bivariate normal distribution before introducing and teaching the bivariate normal distribution
content. This study also recommends that the university should consider a change of
curriculum by teaching the bivariate normal distribution, as an introductory course to the unit
under the multivariate distributions in statistics, in third year of the students’ studies.
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Description
Citation
Onyancha, Nyambane Bosire (2017) An investigation into undergraduate student's difficulties in learning the bivariate normal distribution : a case of a Kenyan university, University of South Africa, Pretoria, <http://hdl.handle.net/10500/23588>