EPISTEMOLOGICAL BELIEFS AND ACADEMIC MOTIVATION OF ARTS AND SCIENCE COLLEGE STUDENTS

Abstract

Epistemological beliefs of students is an important factor for students’ coherent and deep learning. Understanding their own epistemologies helps students to choose better learning strategies and enhance their academic performance. This paper examined the epistemological beliefs and academic motivation of undergraduate students studying in arts and science colleges based on the selected background variables. A sample of 1000 arts and science college students were surveyed using Epistemological Beliefs Scale developed and validated by the investigators and a revalidated Deo – Mohan Achievement Motivation (n-Ach) scale developed by Pratibha Deo and Asha Mohan (1985). The collected data were analysed using t-test, ANOVA, Chi square and Correlation using SPSS software. The study found that female students have sophisticated epistemological beliefs and better academic motivation. The findings showed that urban college students have sophisticated epistemological beliefs and better academic motivation than the rural college students. It was also found that students belonging to science streams were found to have sophisticated epistemological beliefs and better academic motivation than the arts students. The findings were interpreted, discussed and appropriate recommendations were made.

Keywords: Epistemological Beliefs, Academic Motivation, Sophisticated beliefs, Arts and Science