Browsing by Author "Kuparinen, Anna"

Previous research shows that emotions experienced in learning affect the learning results. In addition, there is lots of evidence about the interconnections between approaches to learning and study success. However, no research has been conducted in Finland about how the emotions experienced in learning might relate to different approaches to learning students adopt and to their learning results. Academic emotions refer to the emotions experienced in context of learning, studying, performing and success. In this study, emotions were defined according to Pekrun's et al. (2002) control-value theory of academic emotions. The objective of the thesis was to explore university students' academic emotions and approaches to learning, their interrelations and effects on study success in a lecture course arranged by Aalto University School of Engineering. The factors affecting good and on the other hand poor performance in the course were explored. Examining the study success in this course was important, as some students had repeatedly found the course extremely challenging and the proportion of poorly performing students had often been significant. Some students participated in the course two or more times in order to pass it. It was investigated if the participants had different experiences and approaches to learning according to the number of times participated in the course. Based on the literature, the concepts of emotions and self-efficacy beliefs were separated and their relationship was explored. The academic emotions questionnaire was compiled and the items were translated using recent international questionnaires. The research data was gathered during February and March 2013 using an electronic questionnaire. The sample consisted of 239 students corresponding to 75 % of all the course participants. In addition, students' points in homework papers, midpoint exam marks and final course results were included in the data. Factor analysis was used to form scales measuring academic emotions and approaches to learning. Differences in emotions, self-efficacy beliefs, approaches to learning and study success according to the number of times participated in the course were analyzed using Kruskall-Wallis test. Correlations, regression analysis, cluster analysis, analysis of variance (ANOVA) and cross tabulation were used to examine the interconnections of emotions, self-efficacy beliefs and approaches to learning and their effects on the study success in the course. Positive emotions correlated positively with self-efficacy beliefs, deep approach to learning, organized studying and study success. As for negative emotions, they correlated positively with surface approach to learning and negatively with self-efficacy, organized studying and study success. Self-efficacy beliefs predicted positively and anxiety and hopelessness predicted negatively students' midpoint exam marks. Similarly, self-efficacy beliefs predicted positively whereas experienced boredom predicted negatively the final course results. Three different groups of students were formed: 1) positive and dedicated, 2) ashamed of not working hard and not dedicated, and 3) anxious and surface oriented. The group of positive and dedicated students had succeeded better in the course and were 40 % more likely to pass the course than the other two groups. Students who participated the course two or more times in order to pass it, had felt more negative emotions and weaker self-efficacy and they had applied more surface and non-organized approaches to learning and studying during the course than those participating for the first time. The results indicate that students' study success could be contributed by supporting positive self-efficacy beliefs and organized approach to studying and by avoiding study environments that might create anxiety or encourage surface approach to learning.