The Approaches to Learning of Australian Tertiary Students: A Replication

The learning processes of Australian tertiary students were examined in a longitudinal study which replicated that of Watkins and Hattie (1985). In accord with the earlier study, older students and Arts students were more likely to adopt deeper level approaches to learning. In addition it was once again those who most utilised surface level strategies, who disliked their learning environment and/or who had “pathological” learning problems who tended to perform least favourably in their first year courses. However, unlike the earlier study, it appeared that students who remained at ANU to complete their course did tend to change to less superficial learning strategies.