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After a fruitful year of research, the three-year long study on NUS students’
motivation and strategies to learning and studying is now entering its
second year and has been modified in the process. Scrutiny of the initial
data collected indicated that: (a) the Biggs’ (1987) original approaches
to learning model was not very successful in measuring NUS students’
study approaches, and (b) the Study Process Questionnaire used in this
project needed some changes to suit the Singaporean context. Consequently,
in-depth analyses were carried out to identify questions that needed modification
based on cultural aspects, use of language, and perception and understanding
of the questions. To corroborate these changes, a small-scale qualitative
study comprising of interviews with students was carried out in April
2001.
During July and August 2001, CDTL will be conducting a second university-wide
survey of second year students using a revised questionnaire. The objective
is to measure the changes in students’ attitudes, motivation and
strategies on learning after they have completed their first year in NUS.
To carry out this survey, we would appreciate receiving the same assistance
from all faculty members that they extended last year. We also thank all
the students who participated in the July–August 2000 survey and
subsequent smaller qualitative surveys and interviews. We hope that NUS
students will continue to freely offer valuable comments about their learning
approaches.
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