Research shows that a surface approach to learning is more common among students in the natural sciences, while students representing the "soft" sciences are more likely to apply a deep approach. However, findings conflict concerning the stability of approaches to learning in general. This study explores the variation in students'…

This study investigated the impact of students' conceptions of constructivist learning activities on academic achievement and drop-out. Although constructivism represents an influential view of learning, studies investigating how students conceptualize this perspective have not been conducted before. A structural equation modelling approach was…

A study of the approaches to learning of adult students in nine United Kingdom colleges of further education found them qualitatively different from those of traditional students as determined by a previous study. Results suggest that adult education courses may inculcate an educational culture inconsistent with the dominant culture in mainstream…