The longitudinal study of cognitive learning style among undergraduate students to enhance the productivity

• Main Author: Ku Afrina Binti Ku Azman Shah
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: Congnitive learning style; Field dependent; Fluid independent

Programs in engineering contributed to the highest number of students who did not manage to graduate and large number of drop out students recorded. Students tend to get low results in academic achievement when they did not able to familiarize to the way of teaching and learning in universities, where individuals show diverse ways of processing information that seem to modulate their achievement in academic. Thus, the main purpose of this study was to identify the Uniten final year Engineering Mechanical students’ cognitive learning style based on Field Dependent (FD) and Field Independent (FI). The research also analyze is there any correlation and substantial between students’ cognitive learning style with their result. An idea to enhance the productivity in learning also included in this study. The methodology of study was using an instrument called Group Embedded Figures Test (GEFT) and collect the result of the students grades in four different subjects as well as Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA). The data collected by performing manual test using GEFT booklet. A total of 194 students participated in the study. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) is used to analyze the data. The finding showed that 116 students (82%) were of Field Independent cognitive style while 26 students (18%) were of Field Dependent cognitive style. The study also resulted in positive correlation of r=0.234 between students’ cognitive learning style with their academic achievement. There were also showed that there is significant relationship between students’ cognitive learning style and their academic achievement. In order to enhance the productivity in learning of the students, the lecturers in Universiti Tenaga Nasional should aware to study the cognitive style of the students to improve their methods of teaching to match with the students’ cognitive style. Additionally, the academic departments shall plays an important role to identify the students cognitive learning style at the early stage of study in order to guide the lecturers to plan their teaching styles that matches the students cognitive learning style based on the results provided in the students info.