Understanding Pakistani Science Students’ Memorization Cognitive Processing Strategies in the Context of Their Culture, Socio-Economic Class and Education System

Abstract

Students use cognitive processing strategies (CPS) to learn from learning content. Each kind of CPS leads to specific kind of learning outcomes. The CPS may be broadly grouped into rehearsal, organization and elaboration. The culture, teaching learning situations and students conceptions limit choices to use different CPS. Because of contextual nature of students CPS, qualitative approaches appeared advantageous to explore students CPS. In this study, focus group interviews were used to discover Pakistani students opinions of their CPS. The public-e school students of Punjab were the population of the study. Purposive sampling was used to select sample to conduct focus group interviews. Students views were analysed by implying applied thematic analysis. Rehearsal in its passive form was the sole CPS recognisable in students views. Different aspects and characteristics of rehearsal behaviour were discussed in the context of Pakistani science students culture, teaching methods, parallel education systems and social class