Learning Approaches : Whether Demographics Matter? - A Study on Business Management Students

Authors

  •   Sripathi Kalvakolanu Assistant Professor, Department of Management Studies, Vignan's Foundation for Science, Technology and Research (Deemed to be University), Guntur - 522 213, Andhra Pradesh
  •   Balaji D. Project Manager - Multimedia Department, Elsevier India Publishing Services, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
  •   Sarangapani Bommaraju Professor of Economics (Retd.), Vignan's Foundation for Science, Technology and Research (Deemed to be University), Guntur - 522 213, Andhra Pradesh

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17010/pijom/2018/v11i7/129936

Keywords:

Bigg's R-SPQ-2F

, Learning Approaches, Surface Approach, Deep Approach, Business Management Students, Demographic Characteristics

JEL Classification

, D83, D91, P46

Publishing Chronology

, Paper Submission Date, May 25, 2018, Paper sent back for Revision, June 14, Paper Acceptance Date, June 25, 2018

Abstract

Formal education is a systematic way of equipping the learners with required knowledge and skills to qualify oneself for performing the future assignments in such domains effectively. Business management courses are known for their inter-disciplinary inputs. The students are trained in many functional areas relating to management like finance, human resources, marketing, production, and operations management. This study investigated learning approaches among PG students of business management using the Revised 2- Factor Study Process Questionnaire (R-SPQ-2F) during the academic year 2016-17. The study examined whether the learning approaches of the business management students were related to demographics such as schooling, parental background, and gender. A total of 132 respondents were administered the Biggs 20 items revised 2 Factor Study Process Questionnaire covering surface and deep learning approaches. This study showed that the business management students who had higher aspirations preferred deep approach to surface approach. The study also revealed that either demographic characteristics or social background of the students had no bearing on learning approaches. Thus, this research endeavor brought to light that there is vast scope for influencing learning approaches, and the study would facilitate educators to better align learning approaches, subject content, and students for desired outcomes, irrespective of their demographics.

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Published

2018-07-01

How to Cite

Kalvakolanu, S., D., B., & Bommaraju, S. (2018). Learning Approaches : Whether Demographics Matter? - A Study on Business Management Students. Prabandhan: Indian Journal of Management, 11(7), 7–22. https://doi.org/10.17010/pijom/2018/v11i7/129936

Issue

Volume 11, Issue 7, July 2018

Section

Education Management
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