STUDY APPROACHES OF POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS IN ODL SYSTEM: A LONGITUDINAL SURVEY

Abstract

The study aimed to analyze the study approach of the postgraduate students across various semesters of studies. Longitudinal survey design was adopted to conduct this study. The participants of study were enrolled in Education degree program in university (Pakistan). There were two cohorts of students who participated in this study with 12 students in cohort-1 and 10 students in cohort-2. Approaches and Study Skills Inventory for Students (ASSIST- short version with 52 items) was used to collect data from students at three different times i.e., first time at the start of the second (coursework) semester, second time at end of second semester (development of research proposal stage) and third time during the dissertation stage. Similarly, the data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. The study results reported that the students used deep and strategic approach to study more than surface approach to study however, the percentage of using the surface approach was also quite high. It was also found that there was no gender wise difference in the surface, deep and strategic approaches of both cohorts of the research study. It is recommended to provide the students with guidance and facilitation for shifting their study approach from surface to deep approach.