The Validity of ASSIST as a Measurement of Learning Approach among MDAB Students

Abstract

Students have their own style to receive and respond to learning process. Recognition of student's learning approach is important and the focus should be on education because it is a key factor in the formation of an individual. There are many instruments have been developed to measure students’ approaches of learning including Approaches and Study Skills Inventory for Students (ASSIST). Thus, the aim of this study is to explore an instrument and to test the predictive validity of (ASSIST) on current and past MDAB students. The questionnaires were distributed the students in UiTM Negeri Sembilan, comprising a total of 112 samples. ASSIST is atype of questionnaire that has been widely used in studies of learning approaches. Three groups were identified in this questionnaire: Deep, Strategic and Surface approaches. One section out of four sections in the questionnaire will be used- Approaches to Study, which consists of 52 items.The researchers will examine the instrument through Path Diagram Analysis by using SPSS and Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) programme.The findings of this study show that ASSIST is an appropriate instrument and proven valid through the scores obtained in the main scales and subscales. Thus, ASSIST can be used as a valuable instrument to access approaches to learning of MDAB students in Negeri Sembilan. We also find that there are significant and positive correlations between deep, surface and strategic approaches.