Learning strategies in primary school-age students

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between personality traits, motivation and learning strategies of primary school students. A total of 193 students filled out Personality Traits Questionnaire for Children, Goal Orientations Questionnaaire and The Learning Strategies Questionnaire. Results showed that male students, compared to female students, were more inclined to goals aimed at others and non-academic goals. Female students, compared to male students, used meta-cognitive control and deep processing more often. Younger students rated goals aimed at themselves and others more important, and used all three types of learning strategies more often. Regression analyses showed that both personality traits and students’ goal orientations significantly contributed to all of the learning strategies variance. Conscientiousness and emotional stability were the most important predictors among Big five personality traits. Self-oriented goals were significant predictors of metacognitive control and deep processing, while goals oriented at others significantly predicted surface processing.