Associations Between Defense Styles, Approaches to Learning, and Achievement Among University Students

The present study explores associations between defense styles, approaches to learning, students' preferences for different types of courses/teaching and achievement. The psychometric properties of the Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ-40), used for assessing students' defense styles, are a...

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Main Authors: Evangelia Karagiannopoulou, Fotios S. Milienos, Vasileios Athanasopoulos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2018-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/feduc.2018.00053/full
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author Evangelia Karagiannopoulou
Fotios S. Milienos
Vasileios Athanasopoulos
author_facet Evangelia Karagiannopoulou
Fotios S. Milienos
Vasileios Athanasopoulos
author_sort Evangelia Karagiannopoulou
collection DOAJ
description The present study explores associations between defense styles, approaches to learning, students' preferences for different types of courses/teaching and achievement. The psychometric properties of the Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ-40), used for assessing students' defense styles, are also explored. Participants in this study were undergraduates (N = 425) studying in a social science department. The Approaches and Study Skills Inventory for Students (ASSIST) is used for exploring students' approaches to learning, while Grade Point Average (GPA) measured students' academic achievement. The study suggests the contribution of defense styles to the Student Learning Research; it reports a mature and an immature learning pattern. Deep and strategic approaches to learning, preferences for classes that support understanding and GPA are associated with a mature defense style, whereas surface approach and preferences for classes that transmit information are associated with immature, image-distorting and neurotic defense styles. Defense styles as well as preferences for different courses appear to act as antecedents of approaches to learning; approaches mediate the effect of defenses and preferences on achievement although defenses have only a small impact. The study also suggests a four factor structure of the DSQ-40 in undergraduates. The findings are discussed in the context of the recent literature.
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spelling doaj.art-d782bcaafe34425a9d1c64c302f8bdd62022-12-22T01:58:17ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Education2504-284X2018-08-01310.3389/feduc.2018.00053363179Associations Between Defense Styles, Approaches to Learning, and Achievement Among University StudentsEvangelia Karagiannopoulou0Fotios S. Milienos1Vasileios Athanasopoulos2University of Ioannina, Ioannina, GreeceUniversity of Ioannina, Ioannina, GreeceUniversity of Nicosia, Nicosia, CyprusThe present study explores associations between defense styles, approaches to learning, students' preferences for different types of courses/teaching and achievement. The psychometric properties of the Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ-40), used for assessing students' defense styles, are also explored. Participants in this study were undergraduates (N = 425) studying in a social science department. The Approaches and Study Skills Inventory for Students (ASSIST) is used for exploring students' approaches to learning, while Grade Point Average (GPA) measured students' academic achievement. The study suggests the contribution of defense styles to the Student Learning Research; it reports a mature and an immature learning pattern. Deep and strategic approaches to learning, preferences for classes that support understanding and GPA are associated with a mature defense style, whereas surface approach and preferences for classes that transmit information are associated with immature, image-distorting and neurotic defense styles. Defense styles as well as preferences for different courses appear to act as antecedents of approaches to learning; approaches mediate the effect of defenses and preferences on achievement although defenses have only a small impact. The study also suggests a four factor structure of the DSQ-40 in undergraduates. The findings are discussed in the context of the recent literature.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/feduc.2018.00053/fulldefense stylesapproaches to learningpreferences for coursesachievement (GPA)university studentsexploratory and confirmatory factor analysis
spellingShingle Evangelia Karagiannopoulou
Fotios S. Milienos
Vasileios Athanasopoulos
Associations Between Defense Styles, Approaches to Learning, and Achievement Among University Students
Frontiers in Education
defense styles
approaches to learning
preferences for courses
achievement (GPA)
university students
exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis
title Associations Between Defense Styles, Approaches to Learning, and Achievement Among University Students
title_full Associations Between Defense Styles, Approaches to Learning, and Achievement Among University Students
title_fullStr Associations Between Defense Styles, Approaches to Learning, and Achievement Among University Students
title_full_unstemmed Associations Between Defense Styles, Approaches to Learning, and Achievement Among University Students
title_short Associations Between Defense Styles, Approaches to Learning, and Achievement Among University Students
title_sort associations between defense styles approaches to learning and achievement among university students
topic defense styles
approaches to learning
preferences for courses
achievement (GPA)
university students
exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis
url https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/feduc.2018.00053/full
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