Three Models of University Students' Academic Thinking: Combining Epistemological Beliefs and Conceptions of Research and Theory

• In Event: Poster Session 7
  In Poster Session: College Student Learning and Development

Abstract

Among the most important goals of university education are that students learn the academic thinking skills and understand the nature of scientific knowledge. In this study, academic thinking was approached by exploring students´ epistemological beliefs and their conceptions about research and theory. The aim of this study was to create an overview on how epistemological beliefs and conceptions of research and theory are linked together. In this study 119 teacher education students´ beliefs and conceptions were analysed and three models, combining students´ epistemological beliefs and their conceptions of research and theory, were created. Models were named as 1) model of scientific thinking based on omniscient authority, 2) static model of scientific thinking and 3) pragmatic model of scientific thinking.

Authors

• Heidi Ponsiluoma, University of Turku

• Mari S. Murtonen, Centre for Learning Research