Evaluation of theoretical and empirical characteristics of The Communication, Language, And Statistics Survey (CLASS)

Abstract

The interaction between language and the learning of statistical concepts has been receiving increased attention. The Communication, Language, And Statistics Survey (CLASS) was developed in response to the need to focus on dynamics of language in light of the culturally and linguistically diverse environments of introductory statistics classrooms. This manuscript presents a cross-cultural evaluation of the characteristics of the CLASS III (third generation of the instrument) and provides a user-friendly cross-culturally valid version of the CLASS. Mixed methods are employed to investigate further characteristics of the CLASS III and provide a scale (CLASS IV) that may be utilized in diverse settings. These research results have implications for instructors, professional developers, and researchers to improve instruction with culturally and linguistically diverse student populations.