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Dissertation Information for Barbara U. Paskewitz

NAME:
- Barbara U. Paskewitz

DEGREE:
- Ph.D.

DISCIPLINE:
- Library and Information Science

SCHOOL:
- University of Pittsburgh (USA) (1984)

ADVISORS:
- Patrick R. Penland

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
- Allen Kent
- Sara Fine
- William Nasri
- Lawrence Knolle

MPACT Status: Fully Complete

Title: A STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEARNING STYLES AND ATTITUDES TOWARD COMPUTER PROGRAMMING OF MIDDLE SCHOOL GIFTED STUDENTS

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine specific factors which may be related to a middle school gifted student's attitude toward computer programming. Included in learning style were preference for formal or informal design, source of motivation, amount of persistence, level of responsibility, need for structure or flexibility, preference for learning situation, perceptual strengths or weaknesses, need for mobility, and right, left, or integrated brain hemisphere orientation. The effect of student's sex and grade level were also investigated.

The questionnaire included the Learning Style Inventory by Dunn, Dunn, and Price; Your Style of Learning and Thinking (Form B) by Torrance; and the Attitude Toward Computer Programming Survey by Rusnock. It was administered to 107 gifted students in grades 6-8. The data were analyzed using the analysis of variance and Pearson produce moment statistical tests.

This study found that, as a group, the students preferred an informal design, were self-motivated and persistent, chose flexibility over structure, would rather learn alone, possessed strong perceptual strengths, and needed mobility. There was not a significant difference in the attitude toward computer programming score as a result of these variables.

A majority of students indicated an integrated brain hemispheric approach to thinking and learning. Since programming requires analysis, logic, and structure (left brain) with problem-solving skills of synthesis, insight, and perception of connections and patterns (right brain), it was hypothesized that there would be a correlation between integrative preference and attitude. This correlation was not substantiated by the data.

The attitude scores were quite high, but the only factor which was statistically significant (p < .05) was sex. Boys, as a group, scored significantly higher at all three grade levels. Further study is needed to investigate the reasons for this difference. Likewise, other factors of learning style, including cognitive style, which may affect students' attitudes toward computer programming, need to be identified.

MPACT Scores for Barbara U. Paskewitz

A = 0
C = 0
A+C = 0
T = 0
G = 0
W = 0
TD = 0
TA = 0
calculated 2008-01-31 06:22:52

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Students under Barbara U. Paskewitz

ADVISEES:
- None

COMMITTEESHIPS:
- None