Science students' approaches to learning

A small group of science students were closely followed through their under-graduate course. The problems and issues which arose as they came to terms with university are described. The notions of course-focussed and interest-focussed behaviour are introduced as ways of characterising the degree of independence the student demonstrated in relation to his learning objectives. These notions are discussed and further employed to indicate various attitudes and approaches to study which students adaptively developed in relation to their university work.