Correlations Between Tree Thinking and Acceptance of Evolution in Introductory Biology Students

Table 9 Correlation and linear regression analysis of TTCI and MATE scores

Variables	ρ	B	Variables	ρ	B
MATE_PRE			MATE_POST
Year	0.109	1.268	Year	0.189***	1.657***
Major	0.001	1.681	Major	0.018	1.674
College/University Introductory Biology	0.121*	2.105	College/University Introductory Biology	0.096	−0.031
Seen trees before	0.236***	4.09**	Seen trees before	0.255*	1.225
Learned to read previously	0.135*	–0.88	Learned to read previously	0.145*	0.297
TTCI_PRE	0.243***	1.297***	MATE_PRE	0.815***	0.637***
			TTCI_PRE	0.180**	−0.224
			TTCI_POST	0.354***	0.628***
			MATE_POST
			Year	0.189***	1.645***
			Major	0.037	1.521
			College/University Introductory Biology	0.128**	−0.633
			Seen trees before	0.255*	1.296
			Learned to read previously	0.145*	0.440
			MATE_PRE	0.815***	0.647***
			c _T	0.203***	3.431**

Model variables, Spearman’s rho (ρ) correlation coefficients for each variable, and estimated B–values in linear regression analysis of TTCI and MATE pretest and posttest scores for the S11 through F12 semesters. * p < 0.05, ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001.
Response coding. Year: Freshman = 1, Sophomore = 2, Junior = 3, Senior = 4, Other = 5. Major: Non-Major = 0, Life Science Major = 1, High School Biology: No = 0, yes = 1. Previous College/University Biology With Evolution: No = 0, Yes = 1. Seen phylogenetic trees previously: No = 0, Not Sure = 1, Yes = 2. Learned to read phylogenetic trees previously: No = 0, Yes = 1.

ISSN: 1936-6434