Approaches to Studying: age, gender and academic performance

Summary A total of 245 business studies students (115 females and 130 males) responded to the Revised Approaches to Studying Inventory (RASI). Consistent with earlier studies, the purposes of the present study were (i) to examine some of the psychometric properties of the RASI; (ii) to investigate whether the RASI was predictive of academic success; and (iii) to investigate the effects of gender, age and programme of study on approaches to studying. The data were analysed using principal components factor analysis. The resulting fit of the RASI subscales to the hypothesised structure was good, thus providing support for the notions of deep, surface and strategic approaches and the lack of direction and academic self‐confidence orientations. The reliability of the ‘lack of direction’ subscale was low. The RASI's ability to predict academic performance investigated using a range of learning performance measures. These data were further analysed in terms of degree programme. Subjects’ mean scores on each of ...

[1]  David Kember,et al.  Approaches to Study of Distance Education Students , 1986 .

[2]  C. Violato,et al.  A validity study of Biggs' three-factor model of learning approaches: a confirmatory factor analysis employing a Canadian sample , 1994 .

[3]  Eugene Sadler-Smith,et al.  Learning styles: a holistic approach , 1996 .

[4]  Paul Kline,et al.  An easy guide to factor analysis , 1993 .

[5]  John T. E. Richardson,et al.  Gender differences in responses to the Approaches to Studying Inventory , 1993 .

[6]  Bill Wood,et al.  MATURE STUDENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION , 1983 .

[7]  John T. E. Richardson,et al.  Reliability and replicability of the Approaches to Studying Questionnaire , 1990 .

[8]  J. Biggs.  Individual differences in study processes and the Quality of Learning Outcomes , 1979 .

[9]  Sarah A. Burnett.  Sex-related differences in spatial ability: Are they trivial? , 1986 .

[10]  Noel Entwistle,et al.  Styles of learning and teaching , 1981 .

[11]  R. Clarke.  Students' approaches to learning in an innovative medical school: a cross-sectional study. , 1986, The British journal of educational psychology.

[12]  M. Knowles.  The adult learner : a neglected species , 1979 .

[13]  John T. E. Richardson,et al.  Mature students in higher education: I. A literature survey on approaches to studying , 1994 .

[14]  David Kember,et al.  INTERPRETATION OF FACTOR ANALYSES FROM THE APPROACHES TO STUDYING INVENTORY , 1989 .

[15]  N. Entwistle,et al.  Identifying distinctive approaches to studying , 1979 .

[16]  F. Marton,et al.  ON QUALITATIVE DIFFERENCES IN LEARNING: I—OUTCOME AND PROCESS* , 1976 .

[17]  S. Newstead,et al.  A study of two "quick-and-easy" methods of assessing individual differences in student learning. , 1992, The British journal of educational psychology.

[18]  R. Cattell.  The Scree Test For The Number Of Factors. , 1966, Multivariate behavioral research.

[19]  J. Biggs.  Student Approaches to Learning and Studying , 1987 .

[20]  John T. E. Richardson,et al.  Mature Students in Higher Education: II. An Investigation of Approaches to Studying and Academic Performance. , 1995 .

[21]  Paul Kline,et al.  Personality: The Psychometric View , 1993 .