Interrogating Student Engagement in a Culturally Responsive Manner: A Malaysian Classroom Perspective

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session Two
  In Roundtable Session: Applied Mixed-Methods Research (Table 2)

Abstract

The discourse on student engagement is rich and varied, yet few studies interrogate this concept in the Malaysian classroom context with rigorous consideration of the cultural, cognitive, and behavioral aspects of the Malaysian student. This mixed-method study examines how Malaysian public-school students perceive engagement with learning using a context-appropriate instrument.

A student self-report questionnaire was constructed after considering cultural factors such as language, social nuances, and classroom norms through interviews and an item paneling process with teachers and Malaysian classroom practitioners. The results of this study demonstrate that the instrument shows promise as a useful assessment and research tool for researchers and educators interested in investigating Malaysian students’ engagement in a culturally responsive manner.

Authors

• Katina Tan, The University of Melbourne
  Presenting Author

• Janet M. Clinton, University of Melbourne
  Non-Presenting Author

• Mark R. Wilson, University of California - Berkeley
  Non-Presenting Author