self-directed learning and student attitudes as correlates of academic achievement performance
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Research PaperTRANSCRIPT
FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY
Self-Directed Learning and Student attitudes as correlates of academic achievement performance
A thesis presented to The Institute of Education
Far Eastern University – Manila
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree Bachelor of Secondary Education
Major in English
ByKim, Soo Jin
Lee, Jung MinLee, Nain
MARCH 2013
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Chapter 1INTRODUCTION
This paper examines and discusses the academic achievements of students
through the use of self-directed learning method. The attitude of each student is
included as well. The purpose is to prove whether or not this study is indeed a key
factor leading to successful academic performance of teen learners provide that the
availability of learning materials these days are ubiquitous. The use of survey and
interviews to some junior and senior students in Metro Manila is done to examine
intensively the role of this learning process to each learner school performance.
Background of the Study
The idea of self-directed learning has sprouted since the ancient time. Many
famous Greek philosophers like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle, learned through self
study (Hiemstra, 1994). Documentation about the use of this technique has been done
and celebrated of several people around the world. It contemporarily took place in
places like the United States of America and in Great Britain in the 1800s (Craik, 1840).
In recent years much of the research has focused on identifying key factors that
leads to academic success among students of different levels. However, the self
directed learning process is more successful for people who were mature enough to
know their responsibility as a student. Consequently, only adult learners are capable of
learning using this method effectively. Indeed, the technological advantages nowadays
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can cater the needs of each young learner to study by his own pace, time and style
without the presence of the traditional teacher. It gives student freedom as well.
However, the characteristics of individual students are optimal in the process. It is the
task of the researchers to find out through this study how students attitudes correlates
with the self-directed learning style to help students excel academically. The creativity
and leadership of individual students will be developed through this process. Likewise,
each student will become a more responsible adult in the future by exposing them to
an independent situation. Moreover, several researchers have explained that giving
some learning responsibility back to the learners in many situations is more beneficial
than other approaches (Heimstra, 1994).
Statement of the Problem
With so many learning theories that are available these days, many researchers
came out explaining modifications with the old ones to cater the needs of the present
generations. People are always trying to find solutions as the problem arises. The self-
directed learning has been done long time ago. Research found out that this strategy is
effective most specially with the adult learners: a more mature age bracket. These are
people who are responsible enough to do it. However, young learners also mature
earlier nowadays because of the many available resources brought by the technological
innovations. Therefore the researchers want to answer the following questions if this
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self directed learning and students attitudes could really help to make the learners
successful academically:
1. What is the profile of the respondents according to:
A. Age
B. Gender
C. Course of study
D. General weighted average
2. What are the strategies related to Self-Directed learning used by the
respondents?
3. What are the Attitudes of students according to:
A. Age
B. Gender
C. Course of Study
D. General weighted average
4. What self-Directed learning program can be proposed to enhance the
academic performance of the respondents?
Significance of the Study
The self directed learning process and students attitudes play an important
factor to become successful academically. This study challenges the belief that learning
takes place only in the presence of accredited teachers. Much study has already proven
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that this method is effective especially to the adult learners. On the other hand, the
researchers are optimistic that young learners are also capable of learning this way
because of the availability of many learning resources anywhere.
By conducting this study, researchers believe that many high school students in
Metro Manila will enjoy the benefits of this research. The parents will be less stress
with the financial burden that many schools are throwing at them. The community will
also reap the fruit because an individual could be more productive while they are
learning on their own. The following are just some of the numerous significances that
this study can provide to learners:
1. Students. They are the respondents and foremost beneficiary of the study. This
study is aimed to them to make their learning more effective. This method
develops student’s creativity by studying independently.
2. Parents. This is not only for the respondents per se but also for the parents who
spends money just to provide their children their good education. Once their
children applied this strategy, they will not have to worry about spending
money just to motivate their teens to learn.
3. Teachers. Once the students study independently, teachers are not anymore
worried about the many preparations just to get them to study. Like devising
many strategies on how to excite them to study. They will just act as their coach
or facilitator.
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4. School. Once the students are learning effectively using this method, they don’t
have to spend a lot of money for the remedial classes, review classes, and
academic related activities. Less use of facilities will save much electricity. Aside
from that, once their students are successful, their school also encourages more
students therefore more income and prestigious.
5. Community. The community comprises different types of families. Once the
learners follow this self study method, the teenagers will be more productive
and they could find time to help their community as an extracurricular activity.
In here the teens can already apply their ability to lead others.
Scope and Delimitations of the Study
The scope and delimitations of this research are students from different schools
in Metro Manila. Learners from third year and fourth year who are enrolled this school
year 2012-2013 are the subject of this study.
The availability of learning materials nowadays gives the learners a chance to
follow the self- directed learning method. Not only adults are capable of reaping the
benefits of this process but also the junior and senior high school students. The
researchers believe that they are mature enough to study by themselves and this is of
course always associated with the right attitude towards learning.
However, learners below this age group are not covered by the research. Other
places are not yet ready for this learning style may find this foreign to them. Those with
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enough knowledge and resources may find this study applicable to them. The
scale the researchers may use will still be under revision.
Definition of Terms
This research gives emphasis with the significant words that are use to further
clarify what the researchers want to accomplish. The terms below are the used in this
research to materialize its objectives.
1. Attitude. The learner’s reaction about self directed learning process and their
ability to solve and study on their own, the strategy they make to make learning
fruitful.
2. Self-directed Learning. This is a process by which a student learns on his/her
own pace and style independently.
3. Students. These are the person involve in the learning program. They are the
ones apply the self directed program in this research.
4. Accomplishments. These are the skills and good attitude that has been
acquired through self study program.
5. Learning. The cognitive process of acquiring skills and knowledge applying
the self study technique.
6. Academic. The theoretical subject that follows set of rules and standards that
lack practicality.
7. Correlation. The mutual relation between self directed learning process and
students’ attitude that has the tendency to vary together.
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8. Theory. The proposed explanation, like the self directed learning theory,
whose status is still under experimentation.
9. Scale. The material or method use to gather data through survey.
Chapter 2Review of Related Studies
I. Self-Directed Learning(Overview)
In a research entitled Self-Directed Learning: Views of Teachers and Students found out
that one problem that they encounter was the difficulty in articulating a precise definition
of self-directed learning. ( Jaquelina Hewitt- Taylor, 2001) It is both believed that students
take more responsibility for learning SDL than in traditional learning. In her research, some
define SDL as learning with the help of a tutor, programmed or structured, by using
portfolio and with a teacher to facilitate the learning. In her findings she concluded that
although there was evidence that both teachers and students felt it appropriate to share
responsibility for learning, some teachers felt that some students often wanted teachers’
control. Some teachers said that, despite being supportive of SDL’s principles, it was not
always easy for teachers to relinquish control.
Most researchers believe that self-directed learning helps promote the creativity and
innovation potential of individuals, groups, organizations, and countries. It is a process in
which individuals take the initiative, with or without the help of others (Knowless, 1977).
This is considered to be the best of all studies. In any facet of life, this method proves to be
crucial in making an individual cope with the rapid changing of life. Self directed learning
originated in the field of adult education but due to the availability of internet, information
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is readily available to everyone. This research uses this method to apply it not to adult
education per se but to younger learners too. Since many teenagers nowadays are believed
to be active learners. They have the strong desires for learning as well.
There are reports that a positive relationship between self directed learning and
academic success in a traditional classroom setting.(Daryamanti 1994) However, there are
three dimensions that are crucial to make an individual successful using this method of
learning. First, someone should be intrinsically motivated to learn. One should know that
studying will make their life worthy. Next, the metacognition , one should have prior
knowledge of what he should be learned. Finally, self –regulation that is you are
independent and you have the initiative. In other words, independence, self- management,
desire for learning, and high problem solving skills are require to be able the learner to
adapt the method.
Research has shown that academic achievement is significantly higher for students who
participate in self-directed learning. (Sobral,1997) many believed that adding Self-directed
learning to traditional learning approaches such as lectures, educators will be better able to
keep students engaged. The purpose is to enhance learning by utilizing self-directed
learning approaches in student development.
II. Student Attitudes and Academic performance
Research entitled Student attitudes and Academic Performance suggests
that the influence of the educational context on engagement is partially mediated
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by psychological beliefs about competence and control. Next parts briefly
summarize the literature relevant to these points. Students conduct when they
have positive emotional responses to learning in school, display curiosity, desire to
know more and they also lead to success or learning. Researchers agree that
engaged student learn more, keep more what they learn, and enjoy learning
activities more than students who are not engaged.(Theresa M. 2006) Who have
advantageous attitudes is more active and do their effort to their jobs like
assignment, activities. There are types of students in the class. Students who do
not think that they cannot finish assignment successfully are afraid of what they
are doing. The reason why student give up her works even they cutting class or
dropping out. In addition, such students are more likely to avoid putting much
effort into their job because they might offer failure grade or they have low ability
to do their job. While student who have more positive mind success what she
doing and getting high grade from their job.
Americans are popular for the freedom of education. They let their student
explore the world, allowing students to learn by themselves. In addition, Americans
believe that students who direct all or part of their learning tend to do better
academically, are more active, and have better social skills and more positive
attitudes about school. Moreover, trusting the students is paramount to their
success in the future. They hate autonomy so these affect students’ attitudes about
school.
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According to Bandura the human behavior is influences by the environment
or vice versa and involves to each kind of intrinsic individual factors in effect the
attitude of a person is highly influences.
III. Self-Directed Learning and Student attitudes
According to William James, the greatest discovery of any generation is that
human being can alter his life by altering his attitude. An attitude is an idea
about ourselves, how we think, which is supported by an appropriate feeling.
These usually originated from experiences we have had, usually early in our
lives.
The attitude of self directed people is an essential factor to make it a success.
In so many research done and articles written related to this, they pinpoint the
attitudes of self directed people. Whether they are young learners or adult
learners, they have shown almost similar characteristics: independence, self
management, desire for leaning, and problem solving. Maurice Gibbons (2008)
summarizes the seven attitudes of self- directed people according to her
article.
The first attitude would be the commitment of such person to responsibility.
This person thinks that the success depends upon them not from other people.
The second attitudes the author cited is the learners self awareness. This
usually boosts their self esteem so it gives them direction in life. They are not
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likely to fail in their commitment. The third attitude is curiosity. They are
always asking questions which are unusual and this leads them to discovery of
something. They usually wonder why a particular phenomenon is happening.
Then the fourth attitude is the drive or the motivation his people have. They
are always on the go to discover for themselves. They are very energetic
person. Next attitude is their being optimistic people. They are hopeful though
they are in an almost impossible situation but still they are expectation is
always about its success. Then another attitude that they have is courage.
These people are risk taker, these people are not afraid of any difficulty that
they might go through. Finally and most importantly is these people’s
determination in achieving their objectives. One says that these people are
usually unstoppable.
IV. Synthesis
Many researchers related to this research show positive result on the
academic performance of each student, especially adult learners, using the SDL
method of learning. The broad definition of SDL arrives many researchers to
different types of SDL processes. Each of them defines it in a somewhat distinctive
way although the main concept is actually focuses on independent learning.
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Attitude of learners are studied separately and have been discussed in a broader
sense of education.
Most democratic countries such as America are one of the pioneer
proponents of this type of learning although the term SDL was just utilized earlier.
The term was rooted from the idea of freedom in learning styles. People hold on to
this belief in relation to actual situation outside the school. Consequently, it
develops creativity and innovation to cope with the rapid changes in world. They
believed that the success of every individual lies much on their creativity, which is
generally the result ones initiative in learning.
In the Philippines educational setting, implementation of this method is not
clearly define but many students who excel in their academics are people who
make their extra effort of studying independently and are highly motivated to
learn. The researchers did not find any studies relating to this case. Therefore,
clearly defining this process in this country is somewhat obscure yet. However, the
researchers will clearly explain how the students in this country surpass other
learners. Many think that students outdo others naturally because of their genes,
others think that it depends on which school they attends to, some people say it
the attitude who determines their success in life. The researchers believe that the
last reason could be the biggest factor that defines success academically.
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Chapter 3Methodology
Most study of self-directed learning is focused on adult learners. This research,
on the other hand, will introduce this method to much younger participants who are
teenagers to find out whether this style is effective in improving their academic
performance. Moreover, the attitude of each learner is highly considered in this study.
3.1. Research design
The research design use in this study is descriptive type. The researchers
describe the data collected and characteristic of the attitude of participants using the
self directed learning style. Descriptive design is a common method of qualitative
research used in the social sciences subjects to monitor the behavior of a subject
without affective that subject. This is popularly used as a precursor to quantitative
research.
The researchers therefore, chose this design because the topic of research is
correlates between self-directed learning and students’ attitude to academic
achievement. This correlation design is used to determine the relationship between
two or more variables.
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This is best used for this research because in this research will use survey
questions for correlating the subject of this research. However, the data collected are
based on attitude and opinion of the respondents and it does not accurately represent
the overall results of the students in the Philippines as a whole.
3.2. Research Participants
The research participants are teenagers in their junior and senior high school
level from Trinity University of Asia, Metro Manila. The participants’ personal data are
given for future references and as proof. There are 15 participants for this study.
The respondents are teenagers between fifteen to eighteen years old. Most of
them are in their third and fourth year high school level. % Filipino and % Korean
nationals who are studying in the same institution. They are all average learners taken
randomly for the survey.
3.3. Research Environment
The research environment of this study is mostly educational and academic. The
characteristics of each participant are not focus on other non educational environment.
This study covers only people who are studying in Trinity University of Asia, Metro
Manila. The participants are average students who belong to upper middle class family.
The average student per class is 15. One hundred percent connected to technological
advancement tools and the SDL learning style is possible. In terms of accessibility in
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learning materials, they are far more advantageous compared with students who are
enrolled in other local schools. We have chosen this school……………….
3.4. Research instruments
The researchers use the available information, observation, interview and
survey questionnaires necessary to materialize the objectives of this study. Moreover,
the interview questions are structured and open-ended type.
a. Personal Data form- this form is attached to the questionnaire survey form to be
filled up by each participant. Mostly about participant’s age, school name and year
level.
b. Self-Directed Assessment Tool - the survey questionnaire for self directed learning
and survey questionnaire for student’s attitude is the main tool of the research.
Questionnaire for SDL is based on Guglielmino’s scale also known as Learning
Preference Assessment (LPA) developed in 1977. It measures the complex attitudes,
skills, and characteristics that comprise an individual’ current level of readiness to
manage learners own learning.
c. Student’s Attitude Survey questionnaire – this is used to measure the attitude of
the learners and how this attitude affects the academic achievement. Developed and
used by Jennifer Schwartz in her research entitled “Self-Directed Learning Student
Attitudes.”It is widely used by many researchers nowadays.
3.5. Research Procedure
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The first step of the research is study carefully the related researches about the
research. Gathering data are the next part by disseminating the questionnaires to the
selected respondents from ____________ in Metro Manila. These two questionnaires
contain 20 items for SDLS and 40 questions including 5 open – ended questions for
Student’s Attitude. Immediately after receiving the completed questionnaires, the
researchers will get the average of each respondent and interpret it using standard
deviation method. The process is treated in two ways: Numerically and in a narrative
way. Organizing data and summarizing raw data gathered follows immediately. Finally,
data interpretation and conclusion will be done.
3.6. Statistical treatment
The statistical treatment is highly descriptive in this study. Data collection is
utilize by using charts, table and standard measurement such as percentiles and
calculating the average or mean the given data.
1. Central Tendency is the standard measurement using the average mean of the raw
score of the completed questionnaires.
2. Tabulation is utilized to see clearly the result of each survey.
3. The charts using the percentile method will also be made.
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