Approaches to studying: Associations with learning conceptions and preferences for teaching

Figures & data

Figure 1. Theoretical model showing the proposed associations between the variable groups

Table 1. Sample characteristics (n = 149)

Variables	All (n = 149)	Men (n = 30)	Women (n = 119)
Age	M (SD)	M (SD)	M (SD)	p	ES
Years of age	23.7 (4.2)	23.2 (2.0)	23.9 (4.5)	0.23	0.20
Learning conception
Learning concept	25.6 (2.3)	24.8 (2.5)	25.8 (2.3)	0.03	0.42
Preferences for teaching
Supporting understanding	15.5 (2.7)	15.0 (2.7)	15.6 (2.6)	0.33	0.23
Transmitting information	17.6 (2.3)	17.4 (2.5)	17.7 (2.3)	0.54	0.12
Approaches to studying
Deep	57.5 (8.3)	57.5 (8.7)	57.5 (8.2)	0.98	0.00
Strategic	71.0 (10.1)	67.3 (9.3)	72.0 (10.1)	0.02	0.48
Surface	48.0 (8.8)	44.6 (6.3)	48.9 (9.1)	0.02	0.55

Notes: Statistical tests are independent t-tests. Effect size (ES) is Cohen’s d.

Table 2. Hierarchical linear regression analyses showing variables associated with approaches to studying in the sample (n = 149)

Independent variables	Deep approach		Strategic approach		Surface approach
	β	p	β	p	β	p
Age	0.15	0.04	−0.02	0.82	−0.26	< 0.01
Gender	−0.10	0.16	0.11	0.15	0.22	< 0.01
Explained variance	6.9%	< 0.01	3.9%	0.05	15.8%	< 0.001
Learning concept	0.33	< 0.001	0.29	< 0.001	−0.07	0.40
R^2 change	16.2%	< 0.001	12.8%	< 0.001	0.3%	0.48
Explained variance	23.1%	< 0.001	16.7%	< 0.001	16.1%	< 0.001
Supporting understanding	0.38	< 0.001	0.32	< 0.001	−0.15	0.06
Transmitting information	0.02	0.83	0.06	0.42	0.24	< 0.01
R^2 change	12.9%	< 0.001	9.2%	< 0.001	7.6%	< 0.01
Explained variance	36.0%	< 0.001	25.9%	< 0.001	23.7%	< 0.001
Durbin–Watson	1.78		1.92		1.94

Notes: Table content is standardized β weights, showing the independent variables’ association with the approaches to studying scores while controlling for all variables in the model. Coding: male gender = 0, female gender = 1. For all other variables, higher scores indicate higher levels.