RESUMO
Learning approaches describe the students' degree of cognitive commitment to learning in diverse types of academic tasks and educational environments. Even though from a micro-level perspective different profiles of approaches have been identified in high-achievement undergraduates attending several majors, such profiles have not been examined from a macro-level approach in terms of distinct educational cultures. Therefore, the research involved two studies conducted on undergraduates from Argentina and Spain: The first one was aimed at analyzing the psychometric features of the Approaches and Study Skills Inventory for Students (ASSIST) whereas the second was focused on examining the learning approaches profiles of high and low achievers attending the same major (Psychology) in two different educational cultures (Spain and Argentina). The scale's original internal structure, examined on a sample of 400 participants (50% Spanish), was verified except for one item, which was fatherly eliminated. The resulting structure was tested and proven verified in a new sample (N = 1,334; 58.3% Spanish) by confirmatory factor analysis, factorial invariance, and internal consistency studies. External validity evidence was examined as well. Additionally, norms to be used in the professional field were calculated.Profiles of learning approaches by academic achievement from each country were examined by latent class analysis. In both cases, high achievers reported higher and more frequent use of the Deep and Strategic approaches and lower and less frequent usage of the Surface one. Further studies should replicate these analyses in undergraduates attending other majors in order to test the hypothesis sustaining these findings' generalization.
Assuntos
Sucesso Acadêmico , Humanos , Comparação Transcultural , Argentina , Espanha , Estudantes/psicologiaRESUMO
Resumen Introducción: el compromiso académico hace referencia a la predisposición que los estudiantes tienen a participar de manera activa en la vida universitaria, asistiendo a las clases, entregando los trabajos a tiempo y siguiendo las instrucciones de los docentes. Existe evidencia que demuestra que el compromiso académico predice positivamente el éxito de los estudiantes. Por esta razón, es que su evaluación cobra gran relevancia para el ámbito educativo universitario a la hora de diseñar prácticas pedagógicas que estimulen el compromiso de los alumnos. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue adaptar y validar la versión del University Student Engagement Inventory (USEI) al español, contemplando diferencias lingüísticas y culturales de tres países hispanohablantes. Método: participaron 921 estudiantes universitarios de España, Argentina y Uruguay. Se aplicó el USEI que consta de 15 afirmaciones agrupadas en tres dimensiones de compromiso: conductual, cognitivo, emocional. Resultados: después de que tres traductores realizaran la adaptación lingüística del instrumento, nueve jueces expertos analizaron el contenido de los ítems y conservaron como resultado la totalidad de los reactivos. Más adelante, se analizó y verificó la estructura interna del instrumento -análisis factorial confirmatorio, validación cruzada, invarianza factorial, consistencia interna-, y también se obtuvo adecuada evidencia de validez externa concurrente entre las dimensiones del USEI y los enfoques de aprendizaje. Conclusión: se obtuvo una versión en español del USEI con adecuadas propiedades psicométricas que puede ser empleado en el ámbito de aplicación con el propósito de identificar el compromiso académico de los estudiantes y proponer acciones orientadas a mejorar sus aprendizajes.
Abstract Introduction: Academic engagement refers to the predisposition that students must actively participate in university life, attending classes, turning in work on time, and following teachers' instructions. There is evidence that shows that academic engagement positively predicts student success. For this reason, its evaluation is of great relevance for university education when designing pedagogical practices that stimulate student engagement. The aim of this study was to adapt and validate the University Student Engagement Inventory (USEI) into Spanish, considering linguistic and cultural differences in three Spanish-speaking countries. Methods: 921 university students from Spain, Argentina and Uruguay participated in the study. The USEI, which consists of 15 statements grouped into three dimensions of engagement -behavioral, cognitive, emotional- was administered. Results: After three translators made the linguistic adaptation of the instrument, nine expert judges analyzed the content of the items, retaining as a result the totality of the items. Subsequently, the internal structure of the instrument was analyzed and verified -confirmatory factor analysis, cross-validation, factorial invariance, internal consistency-. Adequate evidence of concurrent external validity between USEI dimensions and learning approaches was also obtained. Conclusion: A Spanish version of the USEI was obtained with adequate psychometric properties that can be used in the field of application with the purpose of identifying students' academic engagement and proposing actions aimed at improving their learnings.