No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

The authors investigated the relationship between individuals' beliefs about the nature of knowledge and the nature of learning (epistemological beliefs) and their thinking about everyday controversial issues. Adults (N = 174) ranging in age from 17 to 71 years old with a mean age of 38 completed the Schommer Epistemological Questionnaire (M. Schommer, 1990), which assessed their beliefs in the certainty and organization of knowledge and the speed and control of learning. After they had completed the questionnaire, they responded to a series of questions about two controversial issues that had been discussed in the local newspaper. Regression analyses indicated that the more the participants believed in complex and tentative knowledge, the more likely they were to take on multiple perspectives, be willing to modify their thinking, withhold ultimate decisions until all information was available, and acknowledge the complex, tentative nature of everyday issues. Epistemological beliefs that are heavily influenced by a higher level of education appear to relate to thinking beyond the classroom, and introducing controversial issues into the curriculum may reciprocally foster the development of epistemological beliefs.

Recent theory (Schommer, 1990) suggests that personal epistemology is multidimensional. The multidimensional epistemology structure with middle school students was tested in this study. Over 1,200 students in Grades 7 and 8 completed an epistemological belief questionnaire. Prior theory, developed with college students, suggested 4 epistemological belief factors: Ability to Learn, Structure of Knowledge, Speed of Learning, and Stability of Knowledge. Confirmatory factor analysis applied to a random half of the sample indicated that a 3-factor model was a good fit to the data. That model was replicated with the second half of the data. Follow-up regression analyses indicated that the more students believed in gradual learning and incremental ability to learn, the higher GPA they earned.

To obtain a more complete understanding of personal epistemology this study examines two epistemic paradigms -ways of knowing (specifically connected knowing and separate knowing) and epistemological beliefs (specifically beliefs about knowledge structure, knowledge stability, learning speed, and learning ability). Participants were 107 college students who completed questionnaires that assessed ways of knowing and epistemological beliefs. Multivariate analysis of variance revealed that men score significantly higher on separate knowing. Path analyses revealed that the effects of ways of knowing on academic performance are mediated by belief in the speed of learning.The study of personal epistemology has evolved over the years. Initially, researchers focused on individuals' beliefs about the nature of knowledge, such as beliefs about the certainty, structure, and source of knowledge (Perry, 1968). In 1990 the focus of study expanded to include beliefs about learning, namely the speed and ability to learn (Schommer, 1990). This set of beliefs was labeled with an umbrella term, 'epistemological belief system'. With this wider focus of study, a surge of research has been carried out to link personal epistemology to various aspects of learning (e.g.,

No abstract

The beliefs about poverty, ways of knowing, and social relationship orientation of 513 American School Counselor Association members were evaluated using canonical correlation analysis. Results indicated a relationship between the beliefs that poverty is caused by individuals' internal characteristics, connected knowing, and social hierarchies. A relationship also exists for school counselors who believe that poverty is caused by external factors, use a combination of connected and separate knowing, and embrace social equality.