Sari Lindblom-Ylänne

The present mixed-method longitudinal study examines students’ experiences of study-related exhaustion, regulation of learning, peer learning and peer support during university studies. At the first measurement point, 188 first-year students completed the questionnaire. At the second measurement point, 91 of the 188 students participated in the follow-up study at their fourth study year and completed the same questionnaire again. Of these, twelve students were interviewed. The results showed that experienced study-related exhaustion and self-regulation of content increased during studies. However, the results also showed a large individual variation in experienced study-related exhaustion. The students whose exhaustion decreased described experiences of peer support that helped them to develop their self-regulation skills. Students whose study-related exhaustion remained low evaluated their self-regulation skills as good. They experienced that they did not need other students’ support in the regulation of learning. The students whose study-related exhaustion increased or remained high described more problems in self-regulation. Most students relied on peer support because of self-regulation problems. However, not all students used other students’ support despite of problems in studying. It can be concluded that regulation skills have a key role in experienced study-related exhaustion during studies.

This chapter analyses challenges in exploring the conceptions of knowledge and knowing. It firstly introduces empirical methods that have been applied to investigate individuals’ conceptions of knowledge. After that, the chapter elaborates methodological and theoretical challenges related to this issue based on current research. Finally, conclusions and methodological recommendations for further studies are presented. Although this chapter focuses especially on research of university students, our broader aim is to demonstrate the methodological and theoretical challenges from the perspective of developmental and educational psychology more generally.

This chapter presents major theories of the development of logical reasoning skills and epistemological beliefs. Both forms of thinking are needed in understanding and evaluating knowledge in various problem-solving and decision-making situations in the everyday life of highly complex societies and also in advanced expertise work. The historical basis and the main lines of research traditions of both logical reasoning and epistemic knowledge are presented. The connections between them will be described based on an empirical study. The results showed that the two approaches of scientific thinking, logical thinking, and conceptions of scientific thinking (epistemological beliefs) are related to each other. They seem to have connections which should be taken into account in further studies. The implications of the findings will be discussed regarding the challenges of our modern societies and the demands of working life.

Students are expected to develop academic competences during their studies. However, research regarding the relation between academic competences and student learning is scarce. The present mixed-methods study aims to investigate the complex interrelations between academic competences and approaches to learning using both quantitative and qualitative methods. The data included 1023 graduates’ survey answers and 83 interviews. The results showed that academic competences correlated positively with a deep approach to learning as well as with organised studying, and negatively with a surface approach. The qualitative analysis, however, revealed that descriptions of a deep approach were also found among graduates who evaluated academic competences less highly. Further, the results showed that putting effort into studying and seeing various competences as transferable were also positively related to academic competences and greater satisfaction with the degree obtained. The present study also showed that approaches to learning are closely intertwined with academic competences. The study suggests that the development of academic competences and an ability to identify them can be supported by emphasising deep-level learning and organised studying.

(2019). Research on academic emotions requires a rich variety of research methods. Studies in Higher Education. Ahead of Print.

The quality of higher education comprises a variety of elements ranging from teaching methods, assessment practices, physical learning environments, and curriculum design, to students’ learning practices and skills as well as to teachers’ and students’ personal characteristics. These elements form a complex dynamic system in which everything is intertwined. Therefore, quality is not achieved by changing or developing just one element, but instead by taking many elements and their complex interaction into account simultaneously. Thus, the development of teaching and learning processes in higher education takes place in real-life contexts, not in a vacuum, where it would be much easier to enhance the quality of teaching and learning in laboratory-like environments.

A successful transition from university to working life requires that graduates are able to employ their education and academic competences in real working-life contexts. Our previous research showed that graduates varied in how they were able to reflect on their competences at the time of graduation. The present longitudinal mixed-method study follows the same graduates and explores their evaluations of the usefulness of university education and career success, three years after graduation. The follow-up data consisted of 57 graduates’ survey answers analysed by quantitative and qualitative methods. The results showed that graduates who were able to describe and evaluate more competences at the time of graduation perceived their current jobs to correspond more to their education. Graduates with more limited evaluations of their competences, on the other hand, had experienced more challenges related to employment and were more uncertain of their goals. The results also showed that having diverse competences and an ability to recognise them at the time of graduation is important for later career success and may also be related to what kind of challenges graduates face in working life.

This study examines the profiles of self-regulation of learning, peer learning and peer support among students. The study investigates whether the profiles differ in terms of reported study-related exhaustion. Students completed a questionnaire regarding their use of self-regulation of learning and peer learning and perceived peer support and study-related exhaustion. Four different student profiles were found. The profiles differed in terms of self-reported study-related exhaustion. Self-regulated students with a low level of peer learning and low perceived value of peer support reported the lowest levels of study-related exhaustion, whereas students with self-regulation problems, a high level of peer learning and high perceived value of peer support reported the highest levels of study-related exhaustion. The results showed that problems in self-regulation were positively related to self-reported study-related exhaustion. Identifying different student profiles helps to recognise students who may need more support in studying.

This study aims, firstly, to examine the nature of the surface approach to learning in today’s university context, and secondly, to explore the factors that explain variations in the use of this approach. The 61 participants were studying in six Bachelor programmes representing various disciplines. These students scored above average on a surface approach scale and volunteered to be interviewed. One compulsory course was selected from each programme. Five surface approach profiles emerged showing variation from a full surface approach to a deep approach with memorisation. Despite very similar high scores on the surface approach scale, students varied in their use of surface-level processes. Thus, the inventory data did not capture the full variation in the students’ use of the surface approach to learning. Rich research methods are therefore needed to better understand the nature of students’ personal aims as well as their study processes and practices.