Are learning approaches and thinking styles related? A study in two Chinese populations

Are learning approaches and thinking styles related? A study in two Chinese populations

• Zhang, Lifang Dept. of Education, University of Hong Kong
• Sternberg, Robert J. Dept. of Psychology, Yale University

Journal of Psychology, 134(5), 469-489, 2000

Heldref Publications

2000

• P Social Context of Education
  • PB Comparative Education
• C Psychology & Learning

Learning Strategies Thought & Thinking Psychological Aspects

• Hong Kong

• 1997.7 onwards

• Post-Secondary Education

This article presents the results of an investigation of the construct validity of J. B. Biggs's (1987) theory of learning approaches and of R. J. Sternberg's (1988) theory of thinking styles in two Chinese populations. The study is also an examination of the nature of the relations between the two theories. University students from Hong Kong (n = 854) and from Nanjing, mainland China (n = 215), completed the Study Process Questionnaire (J. B. Biggs, 1992) and the Thinking Styles Inventory (R. J. Sternberg & R. K. Wagner, 1992). Results indicated that both inventories were reliable and valid for assessing the constructs underlying their respective theories among both Hong Kong and Nanjing university students. Results also showed that the learning approaches and thinking styles are related in the hypothesized ways: The surface approach was hypothesized to be positively and significantly correlated with styles associated with less complexity, and negatively and significantly correlated with the legislative, judicial, liberal, and hierarchical styles. The deep approach was hypothesized to be positively and significantly correlated with styles associated with more complexity, and negatively and significantly correlated with the executive, conservative, local, and monarchic styles. Implications of these relations are discussed.
[Copyright of Journal of Psychology is the property of Heldref Publications. Full article may be available at the publisher's website:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00223980009598230 ]

• English

Journal Articles

• 00223980

• 10.1080/00223980009598230

https://bibliography.lib.eduhk.hk/en/bibs/b9209090

2010-09-06