Student interest as a key driver of engagement for first year students

dc.citation.issue2
dc.citation.volume8
dc.contributor.authorKahu ER
dc.contributor.authorNelson K
dc.contributor.authorPicton C
dc.coverage.spatialAdelaide, Australia
dc.date.available2017-07
dc.date.issued2017-07
dc.description.abstractMuch has been written about the challenges faced by first year students at university. This paper adds to that literature by exploring student interest, known to be associated with persistence and learning. Using data from a qualitative study following 19 students through their first year at a regional Australian university, the paper examines the antecedents and consequences of student interest. Findings show the students’ existing individual interests and goals interact with the teaching environment to trigger situational interest. Situational interest then enhances behavioural and cognitive engagement and leads to better learning and grades. Perceived relevance of the learning task is shown to be a particularly important determinant of student interest. Students’ emotions, self-efficacy, and their sense of belonging are also important factors in explaining the links between student interest, the teaching environment, and student engagement.
dc.description.confidentialFALSE
dc.format.extent55 - 66
dc.identifier.citationStudent Success, 2017, 8 (2), pp. 55 - 66
dc.identifier.doi10.5204/ssj.v8i2.379
dc.identifier.elements-id354401
dc.identifier.harvestedMassey_Dark
dc.identifier.issn2205-0795
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10179/15150
dc.relation.isPartOfStudent Success
dc.relation.urihttps://studentsuccessjournal.org/article/view/504
dc.titleStudent interest as a key driver of engagement for first year students
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.notesNot known
pubs.organisational-group/Massey University
pubs.organisational-group/Massey University/College of Humanities and Social Sciences
pubs.organisational-group/Massey University/College of Humanities and Social Sciences/School of Psychology
Files
Collections