This study investigated disciplinary differences in students' approaches to the learning task. Students in introductory undergraduate courses (English, psychology, education, engineering) had different levels of academic self-concept, intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, and the use of surface learning strategies. They did not differ however, in their subject motivation or their use of critical thinking or time management strategies. Course differences were found in how student academic self-concept and motivation related to their use of learning strategies, and in turn, how these variables predicted final course grades. Across disciplines, a higher-quality approach to the learning task, as emphasized by students and professors, related to academic achievement but in unexpected ways. Disciplinary differences in students' learning approaches suggest that general models of student learning, such as self-regulation theory, should be applied within academic disciplines.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.30162 |
| Date | January 1999 |
| Creators | Dubuc, Paul A. |
| Contributors | Donald, Janet G. (advisor) |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Master of Arts (Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001746262, proquestno: MQ64144, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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