The roles of motivational beliefs and learning styles on tenth grade students' biology achievement


Tezin Türü: Yüksek Lisans

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Eğitim Fakültesi, Matematik ve Fen Bilimleri Eğitimi Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2003

Öğrenci: ŞULE ÖZKAN

Eş Danışman: ÖMER GEBAN, CEREN ÖZTEKİN

Özet:

This study aimed to explore the roles of students̕ motivational beliefs (self-efficacy, intrinsic value, test anxiety) and learning styles on tenth grade students̕ biology achievement. In this study Turkish version of the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire, Learning Style Inventory, and Biology Achievement Test were used as measuring instruments. Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire was adapted into Turkish and pilot tested with 238 tenth grade students from two representative schools. The main study was conducted in 11 randomly selected schools throughout the Çankaya and Yenimahalle districts of Ankara with a total of 980 tenth grade students in fall 2002-2003 semester. The data obtained from the administration of the measuring instruments were analyzed by using analyses of covariance (ANCOVA) and bivariate correlations. Results of the statistical analyses indicated that students̕ learning styles had a significant effect on their biology achievement when students̕ motivational beliefs were controlled. The most common learning style type was found to be assimilating for the subjects of this study. Moreover, the biology achievement test mean scores of assimilators were found to be higher than that of convergers, divergers, and accommodators. Bivariate correlations revealed low positive correlations between each of the three components of motivational belief and students̕ biology achievement.