American Journal of Applied Psychology

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Student Approaches to Learning Among University Students

Received: 26 February 2015    Accepted: 26 February 2015    Published: 09 March 2015
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Abstract

This study evaluated the learning characteristics of university students based on three learning approaches (surface approach, deep approach and achieving approach) and six subscales, namely three learning motives (LM) and three learning strategies (LS). A survey form adapted from Biggs’s study process questionnaire (SPQ) was distributed to a total of 193 students at a private university college in Malaysia. This study employed descriptive correlation research design to address the research questions. Results of the study indicated that students were more prone to apply deep approach. Further analysis revealed a combination of “achieving strategy and deep motive” was the most popular approach among students. The pattern of surface and achieving approaches showed significant differences across subject variable. Proposed teaching methods were introduced to suit the needs of these major learning characteristics among university students.

DOI 10.11648/j.ajap.s.2015040301.13
Published in American Journal of Applied Psychology (Volume 4, Issue 3-1, June 2015)

This article belongs to the Special Issue Psychology of University Students

Page(s) 15-20
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Approaches to Learning, Learning Motives, learning Strategies, Disciplines

References
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Author Information
  • Faculty of Educational Studies, University Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia

  • Faculty of Social Science, Arts and Humanities, Tunku Abdul Rahman University College, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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  • APA Style

    Hee Chong Teoh, Teng Teng Yap. (2015). Student Approaches to Learning Among University Students. American Journal of Applied Psychology, 4(3-1), 15-20. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.s.2015040301.13

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    Hee Chong Teoh; Teng Teng Yap. Student Approaches to Learning Among University Students. Am. J. Appl. Psychol. 2015, 4(3-1), 15-20. doi: 10.11648/j.ajap.s.2015040301.13

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    AMA Style

    Hee Chong Teoh, Teng Teng Yap. Student Approaches to Learning Among University Students. Am J Appl Psychol. 2015;4(3-1):15-20. doi: 10.11648/j.ajap.s.2015040301.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajap.s.2015040301.13,
      author = {Hee Chong Teoh and Teng Teng Yap},
      title = {Student Approaches to Learning Among University Students},
      journal = {American Journal of Applied Psychology},
      volume = {4},
      number = {3-1},
      pages = {15-20},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajap.s.2015040301.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajap.s.2015040301.13},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajap.s.2015040301.13},
      abstract = {This study evaluated the learning characteristics of university students based on three learning approaches (surface approach, deep approach and achieving approach) and six subscales, namely three learning motives (LM) and three learning strategies (LS). A survey form adapted from Biggs’s study process questionnaire (SPQ) was distributed to a total of 193 students at a private university college in Malaysia. This study employed descriptive correlation research design to address the research questions. Results of the study indicated that students were more prone to apply deep approach. Further analysis revealed a combination of “achieving strategy and deep motive” was the most popular approach among students. The pattern of surface and achieving approaches showed significant differences across subject variable. Proposed teaching methods were introduced to suit the needs of these major learning characteristics among university students.},
     year = {2015}
    }
    

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    T1  - Student Approaches to Learning Among University Students
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    AB  - This study evaluated the learning characteristics of university students based on three learning approaches (surface approach, deep approach and achieving approach) and six subscales, namely three learning motives (LM) and three learning strategies (LS). A survey form adapted from Biggs’s study process questionnaire (SPQ) was distributed to a total of 193 students at a private university college in Malaysia. This study employed descriptive correlation research design to address the research questions. Results of the study indicated that students were more prone to apply deep approach. Further analysis revealed a combination of “achieving strategy and deep motive” was the most popular approach among students. The pattern of surface and achieving approaches showed significant differences across subject variable. Proposed teaching methods were introduced to suit the needs of these major learning characteristics among university students.
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