مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - Learning Approaches Profile of High School Students

Abstract :

The purpose of this study is to identify the learning approaches profile of 9th grade students and to determine how deep and surface learning approaches are shaped in female and male students. The study was conducted according to the scanning model. The study population consisted of 9th grade students enrolled at high schools in Turkey within the 2013-2014 academic year. Sampling of the study involved three cities from each region, two schools from each city and students from two 9th grade classes in each school. Data obtained from a total of 34 schools were evaluated according to the received inventories. In this respect, a total of 1860 students (919 female and 941 male) participated in the study. Data were collected through the “Learning Approaches Inventory”. Data were firstly analyzed according to the mean scores regarding deep and surface learning approaches. Secondly, t-test for independent groups was used in order to determine whether there was a significant difference between the mean scores of surface and deep learning approaches based on gender. Findings indicated that students scored higher than the average in both deep and surface learning approach, and it was observed that deep learning scores were higher than the surface learning scores. While significant difference favoring the female students was observed in deep learning scores p = .04, p .05, no significance difference was found in the surface learning scores p = .75, p .05. Findings were discussed in light of the relevant literature.