Student Perceptions Research Articles

We Don't Haze: Testing the Effectiveness of a Video-Based Hazing Prevention Training for College Students.

This research reports findings from a study to explore the efficacy of a video-based training with college students to determine the extent to which the training shifted student perceptions of hazing, increased willingness and ability to intervene in situations where hazing is occurring, and altered student perceptions of hazing social norms. The study included two experimental groups and a control group at each of the three data-gathering sessions at three U.S. universities. Each of the universities belonged to the Hazing Prevention Consortium and had demonstrated a willingness to prevent hazing on their campuses. The 17-minute hazing prevention documentary We Don't Haze, developed using a bystander intervention framework, was administered in two experimental conditions: video-only and video plus facilitated discussion. Participants (n = 318) were members of a leadership development program, resident advisors, and club sport athletes and were randomly assigned to one of the two treatment groups or the control group. Students who viewed the video-based training and students who viewed the video and engaged in a follow-up facilitated discussion significantly shifted their perceptions of hazing and indicated an increased willingness and ability to intervene and help others who are experiencing or have experienced hazing, compared to students who viewed a general leadership video. The results of this study indicate that the tested hazing prevention trainings-both the stand-alone video, We Don't Haze, and the video plus discussion-hold promise for strengthening knowledge of the full range of harm associated with hazing, while amplifying perceptions that support hazing prevention and diminishing perceptions that contribute to normalizing hazing.

Peer evaluation as an alternative assessment method for case presentations: A cross-sectional study of dental students' perception.

Peer assessment in dental and medical education is a key tool for evaluating attitudes and communication skills, serving as an effective formative learning method. It not only boosts academic performance and encourages lifelong learning and reflective practice but also fosters collaboration, effective communication, and constructive feedback among peers. This study aimed to assess dental students' satisfaction and perceptions regarding implementing peer assessment in case presentations, including contribution to their learning. This cross-sectional study involved third (n=26), fourth (n=54), and sixth (n=71) dental students divided into five groups. Each student received peer assessments (n=8) from the students of the other groups regarding their clinical presentation. At the end of the process, students were invited to complete an anonymous 9-item questionnaire to assess student perceptions of the peer-assessment process. Data were analyzed to evaluate students' perception and satisfaction with the peer assessment task. The bivariate analysis explored associations among questionnaire items. A total of 151 students participated in the current study. Results showed a high level of agreement for most of the students regarding their preparedness for peer and self-assessment. More than 75% of the students at all academic levels found it challenging to evaluate their peers. Student satisfaction scores increased with the level of education, (4.076, 4.214, and 4.246 out of five, respectively) with moderate correlations between peer evaluation characteristics. Peer assessment appears to enhance learning and professional development in dental students. Students' satisfaction with peer assessment grows with education level, reflecting its role in fostering critical evaluation skills and feedback.

Pre-Service Teachers’ Assessment of ChatGPT’s Utility in Higher Education: SWOT and Content Analysis

ChatGPT (GPT-3.5), an intelligent Web-based tool capable of conducting text-based conversations akin to human interaction across various subjects, has recently gained significant popularity. This surge in interest has led researchers to examine its impact on numerous fields, including education. The aim of this paper is to investigate the perceptions of undergraduate students regarding ChatGPT’s utility in academic environments, focusing on its strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. It responds to emerging challenges in educational technology, such as the integration of artificial intelligence in teaching and learning processes. The study involved 257 students from two university departments in Greece—namely primary and early childhood education pre-service teachers. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Various methods were employed for data analysis, including descriptive statistics, inferential analysis, K-means clustering, and decision trees. Additional insights were obtained from a subset of students who undertook a project in an elective course, detailing the types of inquiries made to ChatGPT and their reasons for recommending (or not recommending) it to their peers. The findings offer valuable insights for tutors, researchers, educational policymakers, and ChatGPT developers. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, these issues have not been dealt with by other researchers.

The impact of automated writing evaluation on English as a foreign language learners' writing self‐efficacy, self‐regulation, anxiety, and performance

AbstractBackgroundWith the growing trend of integrating technology into teaching environments, using Automated Writing Evaluation (AWE) in writing instruction has been extensively studied over the last two decades. The studies on AWE mostly investigated its impact on students' writing proficiencies and revealed conflicting results. However, very few studies have investigated how the use of AWE impacts learners' writing‐specific psychological factors, such as self‐efficacy, self‐regulation, and anxiety, from an empirical perspective. Therefore, further experimental studies are needed in this regard.ObjectivesThis study aimed at examining how a combined automated‐teacher feedback condition in which the students received automated feedback on their sentence‐level errors alongside teacher feedback on content and organization impacted English as a Foreign Language (EFL) students' self‐efficacy, self‐regulation, anxiety, and writing performance, compared with a traditional teacher‐only feedback condition.MethodsThe study utilized a quasi‐experimental design in which two intact classes were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups. During one semester (16 weeks), students in the experimental group received both automated and teacher feedback, referred to in this study as combined automated‐teacher feedback. In contrast, students in the control group received only teacher feedback. Two scales, a questionnaire and a focus group interview, were used to obtain the data. The data were analysed using both quantitative and qualitative techniques.Results and ConclusionThe quantitative results demonstrated no statistically significant difference between the two types of feedback procedures in promoting the use of self‐regulated writing strategies by the students. However, the use of combined automated‐teacher feedback was found to be more effective than conventional teacher‐only feedback in enhancing the students' writing self‐efficacy and writing performance. The two different feedback processes were shown to be ineffective at helping the students' writing anxiety, however. The qualitative data also showed that students had favourable opinions of their experiences with receiving automated and teacher comments together.ImplicationsConsidering the findings of this study regarding the impact of combined automated‐teacher feedback on students' writing self‐efficacy and writing performance, as well as positive student perceptions, it is suggested that this feedback model is used as an alternative to teacher‐only feedback in EFL writing instruction.

Embedded approaches to academic literacy development: a systematic review of empirical research about impact

ABSTRACT This systematic literature review identifies evidence used to justify embedded approaches to academic literacy development. This inquiry is of direct relevance to widening participation in higher education and persistent inequity with completion rates for linguistically and culturally diverse student groups. Using the PRISMA-P checklist, 20 studies were included. Analysis focused on their research designs, types of evidence presented, pedagogic practices implemented, and journal choice. Findings show that research designs often involved questionnaire, interview, and focus group data to generate insights about student and staff perceptions. Descriptions of pedagogic practices were brief and not always related to claims about impact, and publishing targeted a variety of disciplines. These findings highlight the need for research teams with discipline knowledge and literacy knowledge so that evidence about the impacts of embedded approaches on academic performance are included, as well as complementary publications that detail the pedagogic practices contributing to change in academic performance.

Direct and Indirect Impacts of Sociopolitical Contexts on Campus Climate: Student Perceptions and Experiences between 2016 and 2018

Direct and Indirect Impacts of Sociopolitical Contexts on Campus Climate: Student Perceptions and Experiences between 2016 and 2018

Perception of University Students on The Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools For The Development of Autonomous Learning

Objective: To explore the perception of university students on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools for the development of autonomous learning. Theoretical Framework: The research is based on Technological Acceptance Theory and Constructivism, focusing on the perception of AI in autonomous learning of university students. Method: Quantitative approach with a descriptive scope, the sample consisted of 665 students enrolled in the Faculty of Education Sciences and Languages (FCEI) of the Peninsula de Santa Elena State University (UPSE)-Ecuador; in the collection of information, the Questionnaire of Perception on the Use of Artificial Intelligence for Autonomous Learning was designed based on 4 dimensions of both variables, and the statistical program SPSS version 29 was used for data processing. Results and Discussion: The results indicate that students show a favorable perception towards the use of AI tools for the autonomous learning process, however, although AI is recognized as a potential tool in university environments, there are still challenges to be overcome. Research Implications: The study has practical implications for strengthening in students the digital competencies needed to effectively use AI tools in their autonomous learning. Originality/Value: The research provides data on the perception of AI tools among university students, offering a starting point for future technology integration strategies in universities.

The Factors of Religious Architecture Influencing Students' Perception of Beauty and Art: Evidence from Hanoi, Vietnam

This study explores the impact of religious architecture on the aesthetic perceptions of elementary school students in Hanoi, Vietnam, focusing on students majoring in fine arts. Employing regression analysis, the research assesses the influence of six key dimensions: architectural design and details, cultural and historical context, spiritual symbolism, emotional impact, context and setting, and students' perceptions of beauty and art. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire developed from a thorough literature review and expert consultations and administered to a randomly selected sample during Vietnam's Lunar New Year in January 2024. The results revealed that each dimension significantly contributes to students' perceptions of beauty, with context and setting having the most pronounced effect. The reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed via Cronbach's alpha, indicating high internal consistency across all scales. The regression analysis validated the theoretical framework, establishing that religious buildings' architectural and contextual elements significantly shape students' aesthetic judgments. These findings underscore the importance of integrating architectural aesthetics into educational curricula, highlighting how environmental and cultural contexts influence educational outcomes in art and aesthetics. This research contributes to filling a significant gap in understanding the academic impact of cultural heritage, offering significant implications for educational practices and policies in culturally diverse settings.

Stakeholder perceptions of gerodontology education for final year Australian dental school curricula.

The study explored the perceptions of final-year Australian dental students, directors of nursing, and consumer representatives toward geriatric education provided at Australian undergraduate dental schools. Findings will strengthen and inform future curricula design for dental schools. Semi-structured interviews and focus groups were conducted through videoconferencing and in-person interviews, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Thematic analysis found the major themes to include relationships, curriculum variation, resources, and in-service learning experiences. The participants found gaps in the current delivery of undergraduate dental education. Solutions included greater resourcing through funding and time allocated to supervisors and a curriculum dedicated to gerodontology. Healthcare professional curriculum design must consider the needs of the learners and stakeholders involved in the health of older people. The focus group participants found multiple barriers and gaps to achieving what is required to adequately prepare dental graduates for an older, frail, and care-dependent population. For curricula to be successful, policymakers and education providers must find solutions to ensure that the oral health needs of older Australians are addressed and managed appropriately.

Student Perceptions of Strengthening and Instilling Character Education Based on the Noble Values of the Indonesian Nation in SB KAMUS Gombok Utara

This study investigates the perceptions of SB KAMUS Gombok Utara students regarding the school's efforts to promote character education rooted in the noble values of the Indonesian nation. The effectiveness of character education hinges on students experiencing firsthand the significance of humanism. This research explores how students perceive character education integration with Indonesian national values within their school context. Employing a quantitative approach grounded in descriptive statistics, data was collected through observation, interviews, documentation, and questionnaires. The findings reveal that 62.96% of the 27 participating students felt adequately prepared regarding strengthening character education, while 37.04% were somewhat prepared. Furthermore, 59.26% of the students felt ready regarding the cultivation of character education content based on noble values, while 40.74% were very prepared. Various factors were identified to influence the educational environment, including teacher and parental awareness, consistency in applying noble values, resource limitations, evolving social values, challenges in progress measurement, shifting priorities, and cultural diversity. Despite these challenges, concerted efforts from stakeholders—comprising families, schools, and communities—can surmount obstacles and fortify the youth's development of positive character traits.

Psychometric properties of the Spanish student version of Perceptions of Inclusion Questionnaire (PIQ-Spa) in a sample of adolescents

ABSTRACT The Perceptions of Inclusion Questionnaire (PIQ) assesses the perceptions of inclusion in 3rd to 9th grade students through three scales: social inclusion, emotional inclusion, and academic self-concept. This study aimed to establish the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the instrument (PIQ-Spa) since no prior formal validation of the PIQ-Spa has been conducted. One thousand Spanish adolescents (12 to 16 years, M = 14, SD = 1.41) participated. The analytical process involved four phases. The initial phase employed confirmatory factor analysis to compare one-factor and three-factor models. Subsequent phases assessed the reliability, convergent, and discriminant validity of the instrument. The model with three correlated factors obtained the best indices of overall fit. Convergent validity was supported by significant factor loadings and average extracted variances (AVE) exceeding 0.5 for all factors. Discriminant validity was supported by confidence interval tests, HTMT ratios, and average extracted variances exceeding the squared correlations between factor pairs. These findings offer robust support for the PIQ-Spa’s validity and reliability in assessing Spanish adolescents’ perceptions of inclusion. Within the Spanish educational landscape, the PIQ-Spa can equip educators with a deeper understanding of student perceptions, enabling them to identify areas for improvement in fostering inclusive school environments.

Student Persistence Through a Different Lens

Unlike many earlier models of student persistence that viewed the process of student persistence through the lens of the institution, the model proposed here looks at persistence through the eyes of students. It draws on the research on student motivation, student perceptions, and the impact of student networks on student engagement to propose a model of student persistence that stresses the importance of student perceptions of their engagement with others on campus and the meanings their draw from their engagements to their decisions to stay or leave. In doing so, it argues that to further promote student persistence, institutions should ask how their actions can influence student perceptions and in turn their motivation to learn and persist.

Willingness to Pay for Online Courses during the Pandemic

During the pandemic in fall 2020, we surveyed students to assess determinants of and willingness to pay for online courses. We found some changes in student perception of online courses as well as the determinants of taking online courses. That is, better grades became less important while convenience of scheduling became more important in student perception as well as in the choice of online courses. In addition to this perceptional factor, degree level, e.g., bachelor’s or associate’s, became an important determinant to the number of online courses as well as to the amount willing to pay for an online course. We also found that students were willing to pay less than the actual tuition rates for online classes. Our constructed demand analysis indicates that the revenue-maximizing tuition rate should be higher than what students are willing to pay.

Impact of Psychological Factors on Physical Education Learning Outcomes

This research aims to analyze the impact of students' perceptions and learning motivation as the main factors that influence physical education learning outcomes. Affective learning is reported to be one of the key factors in achieving physical education learning outcomes. A correlation design using the associative causal method has been used to collect information from a sample of 63 public elementary school students. Data collection was carried out through questionnaires and focus group discussions. Next, to examine the impact of this study, we utilized IBM SPSS software. The results show that there is a different correlation between physical education learning outcomes and predictors of student perception and learning motivation. The strength of the direct influence identifies that there is a significant positive influence on students' perceptions and learning motivation on physical education learning outcomes. Therefore, the components of student perception and learning motivation are the main factors in physical education learning outcomes.

University students facilitating hip hop in a community engagement project: experiences and perceptions

ABSTRACT Hip hop is the most popular music in the US and remains on the fringes of the music education profession as both under-integrated, researched, and utilised. The purpose of this project was to investigate the experiences and perceptions of undergraduate music students who facilitated a hip hop project with hip hop experts in a local youth arts organisation located in the southeastern region of the US. As a qualitative investigation, analysis of these data revealed four themes associated with undergraduate music student experiences, which included (1) adaptability, (2) connection, (3) discomfort, and (4) impact. These data suggest direct influences on participant understandings related to hip hop with implications for the field of music education to include hip hop experiences in democratic and learner-led classrooms.

Beyond the Classroom: The Transformative Influence of Clubs and Chapters on Student Life

Beyond the Classroom: The Transformative Influence of Clubs and Chapters on Student Life

Exploring perceptions of pre-clerkship students about workplace learning in the clinical learning environment at Gulf Medical University, UAE

BackgroundMedical students view clinical workplace placements as an inspiring and motivating learning environment where active student participation is pivotal to development of students’ identity. The progress from pre-clerkship to clerkship education harbors many challenges which consist of experiential learning, adjusting to the clinical environment, and understanding roles & responsibilities. Workplace learning is underpinned by various adult learning theories including social theories,constructivism, supported participation and legitimate peripheral participation. Workplace learning course was recently initiated for pre-clerkship students at a medical university in UAE, which will enable their smooth entry into the clerkship phase of the curriculum.ObjectivesThe research aims to explore students’ perceptions of various domains of their clinical learning environment (CLE), highlight the challenges they face, and extract valuable feedback to improve their environment.MethodsThis study was conducted qualitatively by using focus groups method in order to explore students’ perceptions of the clinical learning environment. Two focus group discussions were conducted (n = 8 +/-10) to determine the common challenges of workplace learning and its potential solutions. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The approach used to carry out this study was phenomenology, as it helps to understand the learning and behavior of these students who are undergoing this pre-clerkship training in order to transition smoothly to the clerkship phase.ResultThe focus groups helped to deeply explore the perceptions of students about their clinical learning environment. It helped to reveal the challenges encountered by the students including the significance of proper orientation of staff and students, language barrier, availability of learning opportunities, and supervision quality. The focus groups provided worthwhile suggestions to improve the learning opportunities in the clinical learning environment which include orientation of the staff and students what to expect, improved supervision, mentoring and providing learning opportunities to encourage participation.ConclusionThis study attempted to identify the pre-clerkship students’ perception of their clinical learning environment and the challenges they face over there. Possible suggestions by the students included a formal orientation for the staff and students to be carried out at the beginning. Efforts should be made by clerkship directors to provide students with learning opportunities by increasing patient exposure, encouraging participation, and providing high-quality supervision.

Pedagogical relations as a decolonisation tool in African higher education: Reflection on the ethics of care, respect, and trust

This article uses the findings obtained from a study that delves into the perceptions of students on their relationship with their higher education (HE) lecturers and how it affects their academic success, to respond to the issue of decolonisation in South African HE, and to approach the question of decolonising HE in Africa. The article argues that it is essential to prioritise student well-being, amplify their voices, and promote a caring culture towards addressing the issue of decolonisation in African education systems. The study shows that African HE students hold higher expectations of their lecturers beyond being professionals. This expectation includes respect for students’ thoughts and incorporation of epistemology that aligns with fostering African development, culture and thoughts (without necessarily conforming to neoliberal norms). The four categories of the teacher’s role, which include academic development, respect and trust, social relationships, and ethics of care are highly demanded by HE students. Borrowing the study outcome, this article holds the view that students’ high expectations of their lecturers to foster social relationships should be channelled to incorporate the African student as a collaborator in the business of education and as a response to the demands of HE students to decolonise African education system. These four categories are not only institutional strategies for effective teaching and learning but also a way to address the non-inclusive impact of Western epistemology on historically racial institutions in Africa.Contribution: This article proposes that adopting mainstream pedagogical relationships can be a powerful tool in incorporating the African students’ thoughts and a step towards liberating the HE system in Africa. It recommends these four cardinal themes as institutional strategies for restricting teaching and learning that relegate students to the receiving end thus systems that refute students as collaborators of knowledge sharing especially at historically racial institutions.

Engaging secondary school students in sustainability assessments through farm nutrient mass balances

AbstractDecision‐support tools (DSTs) are increasingly used to collect, manage, and/or analyze growing amounts of data generated on farms. The whole‐farm nutrient mass balance (NMB) is an assessment with an associated DST (the Cornell NMB calculator) that measures farm nutrient management efficiency. Our main objectives were to (1) develop and implement a secondary school curriculum on NMB assessments; (2) evaluate its impact on student knowledge and perceptions of agricultural sustainability, nutrient management, careers in agriculture, awareness about data collection and use of DSTs, and analytical and quantitative skills; and (3) assess teacher experiences delivering the materials. The curriculum was implemented across 21 New York classrooms. Students completed one pre‐ and one post‐curriculum implementation questionnaire (n = 134). Teachers completed a post‐curriculum implementation questionnaire (n = 19). Results showed that the curriculum enhanced student knowledge of nutrient management and effectively conveyed the fundamentals of the NMB metrics. It also impacted student perceptions of the utilization of DSTs and need for mathematical skills and data management knowledge in agriculture. The curriculum did not influence student interest in pursuing agricultural careers but exposed them to aspects of farming that they were not previously familiar with. The math‐focused lessons were identified as challenging by many students and teachers. Teachers found the curriculum applicable to the real world, exposing students to new aspects of farming. We conclude that real‐world case‐study examples, carefully planned math‐focused lessons, appropriate support materials including widely installable and user‐friendly software, and training opportunities for teachers can help effective teaching of DST use and agriculture sustainability concepts.

Flipping diverse classrooms

Flipped Classroom is a pedagogical approach in which all or some of direct instruction is moved outside of the face-to-face environment to dedicate more in-class time to ‘hands-on’, experimental and engaging activities. Usually enabled by educational technology, the Flipped Classroom approach draws on the ‘active learning’ philosophy which implies that students must share responsibility for their learning with their instructors, resulting in more impactful learner behaviours. Considering university classrooms are increasingly diverse, with international students forming a significant cohort of learners, instructor perceptions of internationals students in Flipped Classrooms are of interest. This is particularly important because international students, especially those from Asian countries, can be perceived by instructors as ‘passive’ learners’ regardless of students’ actual skills, learning preferences and goals. This presumed ‘passivity’ may clash with instructors’ goals, potentially creating tensions-filled dynamics between instructors and international students in Flipped Classrooms. The proposed article explores university instructors’ perceptions of international students in technology-enabled Flipped Classrooms to understand how these perceptions may influence instructors’ choices for the design of the flip. Findings demonstrate that while some instructors view international students as a barrier to impactful Flipped Classroom, others draw on their classroom’s diversity, using it as a source of inspiration, and designing the flip with international students in mind.