Un instrumento para explorar las actitudes hacia la informática en estudiantes de Matemáticas

Abstract

Despite in the last years the term computational thinking is getting more and more used, there are few studies about how this way of thinking is developed, how is it influenced by the affective domain and, especially, what attitudes do non computer science students (as mathematics students) have regarding this issue. In this work we present the definition and validation of an instrument for measuring attitudes towards informatics in mathematics undergraduate students. The definition is based on previous works about attitudes towards mathematics, by exploring three subdomains: anxiety, self-concept and beliefs about computation or coding. The instrument was validated by experts and by applicating it to a sample of 60 students in the bachelor degrees in Mathematics and the double diploma in Mathematics & Physics. Results show this is a realiable and valid instrument, that can be used as a first step for exploring attitudes towards computational thinking in mathematics students (and other STEM students, i.e., Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics).