Mediating roles of ability beliefs and intrinsic motivation in PBL and engagement in practical skills relations among electrical/electronic education undergraduate

ABSTRACT

The need to determine the mechanisms of change that explain why problem-based learning (PBL) interventions are effective necessitated this study. The current study draws on survey responses from 78 electrical/electronic technology education undergraduates at public universities in southeast Nigeria to test the hypotheses suggested. Hierarchical Multiple Regression results indicate that students’ ratings of PBL associated positively with engagement in practical skills acquisition (EPSA) as well as with intrinsic motivation and students’ ability beliefs. Also, mediation analysis suggests that intrinsic motivation and ability beliefs mediate PBL experiences and student EPSA. Our results highlight the critical potential of PBL for increasing student EPSA. Therefore, for technical students and educators, technical administrators, and policymakers who seek effective ways of improving the teaching and learning of practicals, this study provides essential information.

KEYWORDS:

• Electrical/electronic technology
• tvet
• problem-based learning
• skill Engagement
• intrinsic Motivation
• ability beliefs

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Chibueze Tobias Orji

Chibueze Tobias Orji is a lecturer in Industrial Technical Education (Electrical Electronics Technology) and a research fellow at the UNESCO-UNEVOC Centre University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He holds a First Class Honors degree in Industrial Technical Education (Electrical Electronics Technology) and a Master degree in the same area. He is a professional member of many TVET bodies such as Association of Vocational and Technical Educators of Nigeria. He has some scholarly publications to his credit. His ORCID ID is http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3457-6206.

Theresa Chinyere Ogbuanya

Theresa Chinyere Ogbuanya is a professor in Industrial Technical Education (Electrical Electronics Technology) at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. She received her PhD in Industrial Technical Education from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. She teaches and supervises both undergraduate and postgraduate electronics work students at the University of Nigeria Nsukka. She has published many scholarly articles and books. Her ORCID ID is https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1656-0147