scholarly journals Changes in Motivation and its Relationship with Academic Performance among First-Year Chemical Engineering Students

Author(s):  
Chan Choong Foong ◽  
Peng Yen Liew ◽  
An Jie Lye
2006 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fei Yu ◽  
Jan Sullivan ◽  
Leith Woodall

Objective - This project sought to identify students’ strengths and weaknesses in locating, retrieving, and citing information in order to deliver information skills workshops more effectively. Methods - Bibliographies submitted from first-year engineering and second- and fourth-year chemical engineering students’ project reports were analysed for the number of items cited, the variety of items cited, and the correct use of citation style. The topics of the project reports were also reviewed to see the relationships between the topics and the items cited. Results - The results show that upper level students cited more items in total than did lower level students in their bibliographies. Second- and fourth-year engineering students cited more books and journal articles than first-year students cited. Web sites were used extensively by all three groups of students, and for some first-year students these were the most frequently used sources. Students from all three groups had difficulties with citation style. Conclusion - There was a clear difference in citation frequency between upper and lower level engineering students. Different strategies of information skills instruction are needed for different levels of students. Librarians and department faculty members need to include good quality Internet resources in their teaching and to change the emphasis from finding information to finding, interpreting, and citing accurately.


2005 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mervyn Skuy ◽  
Melissa Skuy

In previous studies significant differences in measured intelligence between African and non-African first year engineering students have been found. Intellectual ability was found to correlate with academic performance, and black studednts had higher dropout and failure rates and performed less well than did their non-African counterparts. Given the low magnitude (r = 0.3), albeit significant, of the correlation between intelligence and academic performance, the question arose of the role of non-intellective factors, relative to intelligence, in determining academic performance of engineering students at University. Accordingly, 93% (n=100) of the second year Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering class were assessed on two measures of intellectual ability, and on measures of self concept, motivation, study attitudes and strategies, anxiety, locus of control, and autonomy. Whereas the intelligence test scores of non-African students (n=36) were significantly higher than those of African students (n=64), this was not the case for any of the non-intellective measures, or for academic achievement. Moreover, although the intellectual measures did not yield significant correlations with academic achievement, certain of the non-intellective measures did, and were able to differentiate between high and low academic performers. This was particularly true for the African group, suggesting that non-intellective variables can contribute significantly to academic performance, particularly in mitigating the effects of lower IQ.


2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 429-439
Author(s):  
Naveed Yasin ◽  
Zeinab Khansari ◽  
Taimur Sharif

This study assesses the enterprising characteristics of first-year undergraduate Omani female chemical engineering students in Muscat, Oman. Pre and post surveys were conducted with 27 respondents from an entrepreneurship boot camp module mandated by the Oman Ministry of Higher Education. The variables, measured on a 10-point Likert scale, included need for achievement, need for autonomy, creativity, risk-taking, and locus of control. Statistical analysis was performed on the integrated data to measure the impact of student learning using a t-test approach and comparing mean averages. This was followed by qualitative semi-structured interviews that were examined using thematic analysis. The comparison of students’ enterprise tendencies before and after the module indicates minor to moderate improvements in their entrepreneurial abilities and their understanding of entrepreneurial behavior. The most noticeable impact was on students’ risk-taking abilities, followed by their creativity, need for achievement, need for control, and, lastly, their need for autonomy. The findings illustrate that students perceived entrepreneurship positively but were concerned about the scheduling of the module and its integration into their core program of study. Students may have benefited further from a module of extended duration as opposed to the block delivery “boot camp” mode of learning. Due to the limited number of participants and the focus on female students only, the results of the study cannot be generalized. However, the article presents an initial exploration of and offers insights into enterprising characteristics among an empirically underexplored demographic and nonbusiness group.


In this research papaer we presented the results of exploration of gender differences in conceptual understanding of rolling motion (velocities and work-energy principle). For this purpose, we have selected nine conceptual items and conducted experiment with 184 first year students at the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, University of Zagreb. Results show that male students significantly outperformed female students. We detected particularly large differences on items that tests knowledge of the rolling phenomena. Results of our research can help teachers to create lessons that are adapted to general student population.


Author(s):  
Kenneth Bryan F. Abaigar ◽  
Benjamin D. Varela

The study was conducted to determine the mathematical skills and the academic performance of the junior and senior electrical engineering students of the University of Eastern Philippines. Descriptive-correlational method of research was used with a total enumeration of the regular students from third year to fifth year electrical engineering students.     The findings revealed that male students dominated all the three year levels of the electrical engineering course. It was also found out that there were more regular fifth year engineering students than the third year and fourth year students. Meanwhile, the third year students got the highest average rating in the final grades of first year and second year mathematics and the lowest average rating belonged to the fifth year students. The learning style of the three-year levels was found to be visual while in terms of study habits, the third year students have very good study habit. It was also found out that the level of mathematical skills of the three-year levels were low, but the level of academic performance of the three-year levels were found out to be good. Multiple regression analysis was used to determine the relationship of the student profile and their mathematical skills. The results showed that the average of final grades in all first-year mathematics, and the students’ year level have significant relationship with the mathematical skills of the students. Meanwhile, the profile variables found to be significantly related to academic performance were the average of final grades in first year mathematics, average of final grades in second year mathematics and study habits of the students’ respondents. Lastly, the mathematical skills had no significant relationship to the academic performance of the student-respondents.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kuok Ho Daniel Tang

PurposeIt is commonly believed that personality traits determine a person's ability to work in a team and academic performance. However, studies have shown inconsistent results with some personality traits better than the other in predicting students' performance in different academic majors. The purpose of this study is to examine the interrelation between personality traits, teamwork competencies and academic performance among first-year first semester engineering students in an Australian university located in the Sarawak state of Malaysia.Design/methodology/approachThe Individual and Team Performance (ITP) metrics were administered among 189 students to gauge their personality traits as well as self-rated and peer-rated teamwork competencies. The correlations between personality traits and teamwork competencies as well as correlations of both the variables to academic performance were subsequently analyzed.FindingsThis study shows no significant difference between the self-rated and peer-rated teamwork competencies. Adventurous trait appears to negatively correlate with teamwork competencies. This study also reveals teamwork competencies as better predictors of academic performance than personality traits. Commitment and focus show relatively larger effect on academic performance. It can be concluded that commitment is the most significant factor to excel in first-year engineering in the university. Therefore, interventions that promote commitment is crucial to academic performance of the first-year first semester engineering students.Practical implicationsThis study promulgates the development of team competencies which are more crucial to academic excellence than personalities. It is useful for the design of team learning activities which lead to the development of teamwork competencies while improving academic performance. It shows that team activities which reinforce commitment especially and focus secondarily, will have significant positive effect on academic performance of the first-year engineering students generally.Originality/valueWhile most studies in this area examine the correlation between personality traits and academic performance, this study is among the very few that looks into the aspect of teamwork competencies. This study also finds its value in its regional significance as such correlational studies are not prevalent in Malaysia.


2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-34
Author(s):  
Quamrul H. Mazumder ◽  
Mary Jo Finney

Engineering is a complex field of study.  Declining enrollment in engineering programs in the United States is of concern and understanding the various factors that contribute to this decline is in order.   Fostering a higher level of student engagement with the content may foster passion towards engineering which could increase academic competency as well as sustained interest in remaining in the profession.  This study examined the role of passion toward engineering content on students’ overall academic performance in an introductory course taught to university and high school students.  A pre-test, post-test, weekly surveys and periodic classroom observation measured levels of passion in the student, classmates, and professor. Mid-semester feedback prompted the professor to adjust his teaching for the purpose of infusing greater student passion towards the content. Results suggest that student passion in both settings fluctuated widely from week to week perhaps due to variable interest in the specific topic.  Overall, high school students’ level of passion remained more stable than that of university students and they performed better academically. Among university students, higher passion was not linked to higher academic performance.  Professor’s passion was highly valued by students though it did not increase their own passion.  


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