ERIC Number: EJ724460
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2006-Jan
Pages: 14
Abstractor: Author
Reference Count: 0
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0361-476X
Domain Knowledge and Individual Interest: The Effects of Academic Level and Specialization in Statistics and Psychology
Lawless, Kimberly A.; Kulikowich, Jonna M.
Contemporary Educational Psychology, v31 n1 p30-43 Jan 2006
Numerous research studies have highlighted the significant impact of domain knowledge and individual interest on learning. However, much of this prior research has neglected several important issues regarding the dynamic interplay of domain knowledge and individual interest both within and between domains as well as across developmental stages of learners. Situated within the Model of Domain Learning, this investigation seeks to respond to those issues. We studied the scores of 267 undergraduate and graduate students representing a variety of majors and programs. Results indicate that domain knowledge and individual interest are related differently for the domains of statistics and psychology. Further, findings indicate that when examining multiple domains of learning (e.g., statistics and psychology), the relationship between domain knowledge and interest changes as an artifact of both students' academic level of preparation in undergraduate and graduate programs and their academic specialization. Based on these results, we offer implications for future research.
Descriptors: Specialization, Psychology, Statistics, Graduate Students, Student Interests, Undergraduate Students, Higher Education, Models, Knowledge Level
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers: N/A

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