General education learning outcomes and demographic correlates in university students in Hong Kong

General education learning outcomes and demographic correlates in university students in Hong Kong

• Yu, Lu The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Shek, Daniel T. L. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Zhu, Xiaoqin The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Applied Research in Quality of Life, 2018

Springer Netherlands

2018

• G Curriculum, Teaching & Learning: Specific Disciplines
  • GJ Interdisciplinary
• Q Philosophy of Education, Educational System & School At Different Levels
  • QE Post-Secondary Education
• Q Philosophy of Education, Educational System & School At Different Levels
  • QJ Educational Institutes, Colleges, Research Institutes, Various Universities

Learning Outcomes General Education Undergraduate Study Generic Skill Chinese

• Hong Kong

• 1997.7 onwards

• Post-Secondary Education

Although there are studies showing that higher education would benefit university students, empirical research that comprehensively assesses student general education learning outcomes and related demographic correlates based on longitudinal data is minimal, especially in the Chinese context. To address the research gaps, the present study was conducted to investigate learning outcomes amongst university students in one university in Hong Kong based on a four-year longitudinal design (N = 460). Four dimensions of student general education learning outcomes were measured, including effective reasoning and problem solving, leadership, moral character, and integration of learning. Results suggested a U-shaped pattern of student learning outcomes for most dimensions, with no improvement or even a decrement in the second year and a steady growth thereafter. While family background did not affect student development, gender showed a significant moderating effect on students’ development in two dimensions (i.e., effective reasoning and problem solving, and integration of learning). These findings suggest that students benefit from general education-embedded university study in multiple dimensions, especially after the first year of transition period. Practical implications of the findings and future research directions were also discussed.
[Copyright of Applied Research in Quality of Life is the property of Springer Netherlands. Full article may be available at the publisher's website:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11482-018-9645-9]

• English

Journal Articles

• 18712584

• 10.1007/s11482-018-9645-9

https://bibliography.lib.eduhk.hk/bibs/31d727a3

2018-12-11