Date of Award

2008

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Education

Abstract

The study was conducted to examine factors that positively influence performance achievement in the context of an online, web-based hypertext learning system. The instrument Index of Learning Style was used to measure learning styles and the sole factor of sequential/global was used as a variable in this study. Study behavior as measured by frequency and duration was measured and used as a variable as well. Eighty-two freshmen from Far East College in Taiwan participated in the study. Participants were part of a required English class. Data were collected in Fall 2005. Each student had a pretest score, a posttest score, a score on the Index of Learning Styles for the factor of Sequential/Global, and the hypertext, web-based system that provided English instruction logged participant frequency of visits and duration of time spent in the system. The study results only found statistically significant difference in the positive correlation between study behavior and posttest results. Student achievement was higher with higher frequency of visits and greater amounts of times spent in the hypertext system. The finding of no significant difference in terms of performance achievement when the global/sequential factor is applied says only that within the narrow context of the study, students of both global and sequential styles were able to achieve.

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