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Epistemological Belief and Learning Approaches of Students in Higher Institutions of Learning in Malaysia

Year 2013, Volume: 6 Issue: 1, - , 01.12.2012

Habsah Ismail Aminuddin Hassan Mohd. Mokhtar Muhamad Wan Zah Wan Ali Mohd. Majid Konting

Abstract

This is an investigation of the students’ beliefs about the nature of knowledge or epistemological beliefs, and the relation of these beliefs on their learning approaches. Students chosen as samples of the study were from both public and private higher institutions of learning in Malaysia. The instrument used in the study consists of 49 items measuring students’ epistemological beliefs and 20 items on their learning approaches. Items on epistemological belief were adapted and modified from Schommer’s Epistemological Questionnaire (1990) and Schraw, Bendixen and Dunkle (2000) Epistemic Beliefs Inventory that assesses students' beliefs about simple knowledge, certain knowledge, quick learning, and fixed ability to learn. Items on learning approaches were adapted from Bigg’s forty-two-item Study Process Questionnaire (SPQ), designed for tertiary-level students. The instrument was administered to 1405 students of higher institutions of learning both public and private. Differences in epistemological beliefs among students of these higher institutions, ethnic and between genders were examined

Keywords

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References

  • Md. Yunus, A.S., Tarmizi, R.A., Mohd. Nor, S., Ismail, H., Wan Ali, W.Z., Abu Bakar, K,. & Hamzah, R. (2006). Necessary skills for Success in Higher Learning.
  • International Journal of Learning, 13(10), 42-55. Bartlett ll, James E., Kotrlik, J.W. & Higgins, C.C. (2001). Organizational Research:
  • Determining Appropriate Sample size in Survey research. Information Technology, Learning and Performance Journal, 19(1), 43-50. Bendixen, L. D., Schraw, G., & Dunkle, M. E. (1998). Epistemic beliefs and moral reasoning. The Journal of Psychology, 13, 187–200.
  • Benson, G.D and Griffith, B.E. (1991). The process of knowing in curriculum. The Journal of General Education. Vol. 40. The Pennsylvania State University Park, PA.
  • Biggs, J.B. (1987). The Study Process Questionnaire (SPQ) Manual: Student
  • Approaches to Learning and Studying. Australian Council for Educational Research. Melbourne. Biggs, J. (1991). Approaches to learning in secondary and tertiary students in Hong
  • Kong: Some comparative studies. Educational Research Journal 6, 27-39. Cano, F. (2005). Epistemological beliefs and approaches to learning: Their change through secondary school and their influence on academic performance. British Journal of Educational Psychology. 75(2), 203-221.
  • Chan, Kwok-Wai Chan (2003). “Hong Kong teacher education students’ epistemological beliefs and approaches to learning”. Research in Education; May 2003; 69; ProQuest Education Journals.
  • Chan, Kwok-Wai Chan (2003). Hong Kong teacher education students’ epistemological beliefs and approaches to learning. ProQuest Education Journals.
  • Gow, L., Balla, J., Kember, D., & Stokes, M. (1989). Approaches to study of tertiary students in Hong Kong. Bulletin of the Hong Kong Psychological Society, 22/23, 57–
  • Gill, M. G., Ashton, P. T., & Algina, J. (2004). Changing preservice teachers’ epistemological beliefs about teaching and learning in mathematics: An intervention study. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 29, Issue 2, 164-185.
  • Kember, D. (2000). Misconceptions about the learning approaches, motivation and study practices of Asian students. Higher Education, 40(1), 99–121.
  • Kember, D., & Gow, L. (1991). A challenge to the anecdotal stereotype of the Asian student. Studies in Higher Education, 16, 117–128.
  • Kember, D., & Leung, D. Y. (1998). The dimensionality of approaches to learning: An investigation with confirmatory factor analysis on the structure of the SPQ and LPQ.
  • British Journal of Educational Psychology, 68, 395–407. King, P. M., & Kitchener, K. S. (1994). Developing reflective judgment: Understanding and promoting intellectual growth and critical thinking in adolescents and adults. San
  • Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Marton, F., & Saljo, R. (1984). Approaches to learning. In Marto, F. & Hounsell, D.J.
  • (Eds.). The experience of learning. Edinburg: Scottish Academic. Ministry of Education. (2004). The development of education: National Report of Malaysia.
  • Neber, H., & Schommer-Aikins, M. (2001). Self-regulated science learning with highly gifted students: The role of cognitive, motivational, epistemological, and environmental variables. Paper presented at the 9th European Conference for Research on Learning and Instruction, Switzerland.
  • Nist, S.L., & Simpson, M.L. (2000). The effectiveness of strategic reading instruction for college developmental readers. In Handbook of reading research, 3, ed. Kamil,
  • M.L, 645-666. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Phan, H. P. (2008). Exploring epistemological beliefs and learning approaches in context: A socio cultural perspective. Electronic Journal of Research in Educational Psychology., 6(3), 793-822.
  • Perry, Junior, W.G. (1970). Forms of intellectual and ethical development in the college years: A scheme. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
  • Pressley,M & Ghatala, E.S. (1989). Metacognitive benefits of taking a test for children and young adolescents. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 47. 430-450.
  • Richardson, J. T. E., and King, E. (1991). Gender differences in the experience of higher education: Quantitative and qualitative approaches. Educational Psychology, 11, 363-3
  • Schraw, G., Bendixen, L.D., & Dunkle, M.E. (2002). Development and validation of the epistemic belief inventory (EBI). In Personal epistemology: The psychology of beliefs about knowledge and knowing, ed. Hofer, B.F., & Pintrich, P.R, 261-275.
  • Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum. Schommer, M & Crouse, A. (1992). Epistemological beliefs and mathematical text comprehension: Believing it is simple does not make it so. Journal of Educational Psychology, 84(4), 435-443.
  • Schommer, M. (1990). Effects of beliefs about the nature of knowledge on comprehension. Journal of Educational Psychology, 82, 498-504.
  • Schommer, M.(1993). Epistemological Development and Academic Performance among secondary students. Journal of Educational Psychology, 85, 406-411.
  • Schommer, M. (1998). The influence of age and schooling on epistemological beliefs.
  • The British Journal of Educational Psychology, 68, 551-562. Scevak, J., & Cantwell, R. (2001). Adjusting to university study: The experiences of students from a manufacturing background undertaking University level study. In
  • Jeffery, P.L (ed.). AARE 2001 Conference Papers, International Education Research
  • Conference, Fremantle. Watkins, D. (2001). Correlates to approaches : A cross-cultural meta-analysis. In
  • Perspectives on thinking, learning and cognitive styles, ed. Sternberg , R.J., & Zhang, L.F., 165-195. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Watkins, D. A. & Biggs, J.B. (1996). The Chinese Learner: Cultural, psychological, and contextual influences. Hong Kong: Comparative Education Research Centre.

Epistemological Belief and Learning Approaches of Students in Higher Institutions of Learning in Malaysia

Year 2013, Volume: 6 Issue: 1, - , 01.12.2012

Habsah Ismail Aminuddin Hassan Mohd. Mokhtar Muhamad Wan Zah Wan Ali Mohd. Majid Konting

Abstract

-

Keywords

-

References

  • Md. Yunus, A.S., Tarmizi, R.A., Mohd. Nor, S., Ismail, H., Wan Ali, W.Z., Abu Bakar, K,. & Hamzah, R. (2006). Necessary skills for Success in Higher Learning.
  • International Journal of Learning, 13(10), 42-55. Bartlett ll, James E., Kotrlik, J.W. & Higgins, C.C. (2001). Organizational Research:
  • Determining Appropriate Sample size in Survey research. Information Technology, Learning and Performance Journal, 19(1), 43-50. Bendixen, L. D., Schraw, G., & Dunkle, M. E. (1998). Epistemic beliefs and moral reasoning. The Journal of Psychology, 13, 187–200.
  • Benson, G.D and Griffith, B.E. (1991). The process of knowing in curriculum. The Journal of General Education. Vol. 40. The Pennsylvania State University Park, PA.
  • Biggs, J.B. (1987). The Study Process Questionnaire (SPQ) Manual: Student
  • Approaches to Learning and Studying. Australian Council for Educational Research. Melbourne. Biggs, J. (1991). Approaches to learning in secondary and tertiary students in Hong
  • Kong: Some comparative studies. Educational Research Journal 6, 27-39. Cano, F. (2005). Epistemological beliefs and approaches to learning: Their change through secondary school and their influence on academic performance. British Journal of Educational Psychology. 75(2), 203-221.
  • Chan, Kwok-Wai Chan (2003). “Hong Kong teacher education students’ epistemological beliefs and approaches to learning”. Research in Education; May 2003; 69; ProQuest Education Journals.
  • Chan, Kwok-Wai Chan (2003). Hong Kong teacher education students’ epistemological beliefs and approaches to learning. ProQuest Education Journals.
  • Gow, L., Balla, J., Kember, D., & Stokes, M. (1989). Approaches to study of tertiary students in Hong Kong. Bulletin of the Hong Kong Psychological Society, 22/23, 57–
  • Gill, M. G., Ashton, P. T., & Algina, J. (2004). Changing preservice teachers’ epistemological beliefs about teaching and learning in mathematics: An intervention study. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 29, Issue 2, 164-185.
  • Kember, D. (2000). Misconceptions about the learning approaches, motivation and study practices of Asian students. Higher Education, 40(1), 99–121.
  • Kember, D., & Gow, L. (1991). A challenge to the anecdotal stereotype of the Asian student. Studies in Higher Education, 16, 117–128.
  • Kember, D., & Leung, D. Y. (1998). The dimensionality of approaches to learning: An investigation with confirmatory factor analysis on the structure of the SPQ and LPQ.
  • British Journal of Educational Psychology, 68, 395–407. King, P. M., & Kitchener, K. S. (1994). Developing reflective judgment: Understanding and promoting intellectual growth and critical thinking in adolescents and adults. San
  • Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Marton, F., & Saljo, R. (1984). Approaches to learning. In Marto, F. & Hounsell, D.J.
  • (Eds.). The experience of learning. Edinburg: Scottish Academic. Ministry of Education. (2004). The development of education: National Report of Malaysia.
  • Neber, H., & Schommer-Aikins, M. (2001). Self-regulated science learning with highly gifted students: The role of cognitive, motivational, epistemological, and environmental variables. Paper presented at the 9th European Conference for Research on Learning and Instruction, Switzerland.
  • Nist, S.L., & Simpson, M.L. (2000). The effectiveness of strategic reading instruction for college developmental readers. In Handbook of reading research, 3, ed. Kamil,
  • M.L, 645-666. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Phan, H. P. (2008). Exploring epistemological beliefs and learning approaches in context: A socio cultural perspective. Electronic Journal of Research in Educational Psychology., 6(3), 793-822.
  • Perry, Junior, W.G. (1970). Forms of intellectual and ethical development in the college years: A scheme. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
  • Pressley,M & Ghatala, E.S. (1989). Metacognitive benefits of taking a test for children and young adolescents. Journal of Experimental Psychology, 47. 430-450.
  • Richardson, J. T. E., and King, E. (1991). Gender differences in the experience of higher education: Quantitative and qualitative approaches. Educational Psychology, 11, 363-3
  • Schraw, G., Bendixen, L.D., & Dunkle, M.E. (2002). Development and validation of the epistemic belief inventory (EBI). In Personal epistemology: The psychology of beliefs about knowledge and knowing, ed. Hofer, B.F., & Pintrich, P.R, 261-275.
  • Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum. Schommer, M & Crouse, A. (1992). Epistemological beliefs and mathematical text comprehension: Believing it is simple does not make it so. Journal of Educational Psychology, 84(4), 435-443.
  • Schommer, M. (1990). Effects of beliefs about the nature of knowledge on comprehension. Journal of Educational Psychology, 82, 498-504.
  • Schommer, M.(1993). Epistemological Development and Academic Performance among secondary students. Journal of Educational Psychology, 85, 406-411.
  • Schommer, M. (1998). The influence of age and schooling on epistemological beliefs.
  • The British Journal of Educational Psychology, 68, 551-562. Scevak, J., & Cantwell, R. (2001). Adjusting to university study: The experiences of students from a manufacturing background undertaking University level study. In
  • Jeffery, P.L (ed.). AARE 2001 Conference Papers, International Education Research
  • Conference, Fremantle. Watkins, D. (2001). Correlates to approaches : A cross-cultural meta-analysis. In
  • Perspectives on thinking, learning and cognitive styles, ed. Sternberg , R.J., & Zhang, L.F., 165-195. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Watkins, D. A. & Biggs, J.B. (1996). The Chinese Learner: Cultural, psychological, and contextual influences. Hong Kong: Comparative Education Research Centre.
There are 32 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language Turkish
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Habsah Ismail This is me

Aminuddin Hassan This is me

Mohd. Mokhtar Muhamad This is me

Wan Zah Wan Ali This is me

Mohd. Majid Konting This is me

Publication Date December 1, 2012
Published in Issue Year 2013 Volume: 6 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Ismail, H., Hassan, A., Muhamad, M. M., Ali, W. Z. W., et al. (2012). Epistemological Belief and Learning Approaches of Students in Higher Institutions of Learning in Malaysia. International Journal of Instruction, 6(1).
AMA Ismail H, Hassan A, Muhamad MM, Ali WZW, Konting MM. Epistemological Belief and Learning Approaches of Students in Higher Institutions of Learning in Malaysia. International Journal of Instruction. December 2012;6(1).
Chicago Ismail, Habsah, Aminuddin Hassan, Mohd. Mokhtar Muhamad, Wan Zah Wan Ali, and Mohd. Majid Konting. “Epistemological Belief and Learning Approaches of Students in Higher Institutions of Learning in Malaysia”. International Journal of Instruction 6, no. 1 (December 2012).
EndNote Ismail H, Hassan A, Muhamad MM, Ali WZW, Konting MM (December 1, 2012) Epistemological Belief and Learning Approaches of Students in Higher Institutions of Learning in Malaysia. International Journal of Instruction 6 1
IEEE H. Ismail, A. Hassan, M. M. Muhamad, W. Z. W. Ali, and M. M. Konting, “Epistemological Belief and Learning Approaches of Students in Higher Institutions of Learning in Malaysia”, International Journal of Instruction, vol. 6, no. 1, 2012.
ISNAD Ismail, Habsah et al. “Epistemological Belief and Learning Approaches of Students in Higher Institutions of Learning in Malaysia”. International Journal of Instruction 6/1 (December 2012).
JAMA Ismail H, Hassan A, Muhamad MM, Ali WZW, Konting MM. Epistemological Belief and Learning Approaches of Students in Higher Institutions of Learning in Malaysia. International Journal of Instruction. 2012;6.
MLA Ismail, Habsah et al. “Epistemological Belief and Learning Approaches of Students in Higher Institutions of Learning in Malaysia”. International Journal of Instruction, vol. 6, no. 1, 2012.
Vancouver Ismail H, Hassan A, Muhamad MM, Ali WZW, Konting MM. Epistemological Belief and Learning Approaches of Students in Higher Institutions of Learning in Malaysia. International Journal of Instruction. 2012;6(1).