Coding Scheme for ROLE post-test, comparison task, rankings, ratings, and student background

The following are the variable names and codes for each closed-ended response.

A blank excel file containing these variable names is available:  role_closedend_coding.xls

• PIN -- identification number for the participant
• Cond (condition): 0=description, 1=argument (Writing instruction)
• Order: 1=volcano first, 2=savage earth first (google page order)

Posttest Responses

• pt1-pt30 (post test): 0= false, 1=true

Comparison Task

• comp1-comp3 (comparison task): if chose the first statement, then code as 1; if chose second statement, then code as 2.

Ranking/Rating Task

• rank1-rank7 (reliability rating survey--rating each website): each website is assigned a ranking by the subject, therefore when coding, code as the number for which they ranked that particular site.

• rate1-rate7 (reliability rating scale): 0= extremely unreliable, 1=fairly reliable, 2=guessing unreliable, 3=guessing reliable, 4=fairly reliable, 5=extremely reliable.

The following information is on the Student Background Survey

• Age: simply enter the age

• Major: type in the major (string variable)

• Minor: type in the minor (string variable)

• Class: 0= freshman, 1=sophomore, 2=junior, 3=senior, 4= other

• Sex: 1=female, 0=male

• Natlang (Native language): 1=English, 0=other

• Earthsci (took earth science in high school?): have taken=1, have not taken=0

• Geo (took geology in high school?): have taken=1, have not taken=0

• Bio (took biology in high school?): have taken=1, have not taken=0

• Chem (took chemistry in high school?): have taken=1, have not taken=0

• Phys (took physics in high school?): have taken=1, have not taken=0

• Hsgrad: enter the year the subject graduated from high school

• Collsci (college science courses): enter the number of college science courses listed

—do no count psychology or sociology as a science course.

• Ptknow (plate tectonics and volcanoes knowledge): enter the number indicated on the scale by the subject.

• Familiar: enter the percentage of familiar information as indicated by the subject on the scale.

• Interest: enter the number indicated on the scale by the subject.