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Test of Scientific Literacy Skills (TOSLS)

Purpose

Test of Scientific Literacy Skills (TOSLS) measures undergraduates’ ability to evaluate scientific information and arguments through 28 multiple-choice questions on data interpretation, research design, and source credibility.

Population

Designed for undergraduate general education and introductory biology courses for science and non-science majors.

Typical Performance

Student outcomes typically show 5–10% pre/post gains, with higher gains in project-based courses (Gormally et al., 2012).

Example question

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Research

Gormally, C., Brickman, P., & Lutz, M. (2012). Developing a test of scientific literacy skills (TOSLS): Measuring undergraduates’ evaluation of scientific information and arguments. CBE—Life Sciences Education, 11(4), 364-377.

Shaffer, J. F., Ferguson, J., & Denaro, K. (2019). Use of the test of scientific literacy skills reveals that fundamental literacy is an important contributor to scientific literacy. CBE—Life Sciences Education, 18(3), ar31.

Example LASSO Report

Please follow this link to our example report for concept inventories.

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