TY - CONF AB - The purpose of the research was to develop and validate an instrument for the assessment of attitudes towards the study environment in higher education contexts. The questionnaire is designed to measure students' attitudes towards two particular objects: the university (or Higher Education Institution) and the process of studying. Five studies at two different universities were conducted to develop and validate the Attitudes towards the Study Environment Questionnaire (ASEQ). In total, 1640 students filled in the questionnaire. Reliability tests and exploratory factor analysis as well as confirmatory factor analysis showed satisfactory psychometric characteristics of the ASEQ. Each part of the questionnaire is internally consistent and construct validity of the scales is supported by correlations with other constructs as assumed by current theories: Positive attitudinal constructs (normative behavior, autonomy, joy, self-efficacy, and task value) are positively related to intrinsic motivation and the expected study performance while anxiety is negatively related to these constructs. Since attitudes towards the study situation are connected to student engagement and motivation, the study contributes to the theory of student learning by providing a validated instrument to assess attitudes. Thus, the ASEQ can support further research on student performance and development by providing an instrument for the hitherto neglected but nonetheless extremely relevant domain of attitudes. Also, the questionnaire can be used as a diagnostic instrument for higher education faculty and administration to trace students' attitudinal development over time - a factor of prime importance for student socialization during the introductory phase of studying. AU - Brahm, Taiga AU - Jenert, Tobias AU - Euler, Dieter ID - 4478 KW - attitudes KW - teaching and learning KW - studying KW - higher education institution KW - theory of planned behavior KW - instrument development TI - On the assessment of attitudes towards the study process and the university: Attitudes towards the Study Environment Questionnaire (ASEQ) ER - TY - CONF AB - Over the last two decades, the discussion about innovating teaching and learning at higher education institutions (HEI) has concentrated on various core concepts: such as an increased focus on learning outcomes as competencies and more student-centered teaching. These concepts form part of what Barr and Tagg (1995) have termed the "shift from teaching to learning". However, very few approaches have been proposed so far in the scholarly literature on how to actually transfer such normative concepts into the practice of teaching and learning at HEI. In order to sustainably develop the practices of teaching and learning at HEI, it is necessary to comprehend the prerequisites for educational development. The construct of "learning culture" can be seen as a possible concept to explicate these prerequisites. The aims of this study are to (a) propose an institution-wide approach to educational development at HEI and to (b) present a comprehensive instrument to diagnose learning culture as a starting point for educational development. The findings of the study include a first version of the Learning Culture Inventory for HEI. The students' version of the instrument encompasses 12 scales for the individual, 12 for the pedagogical interactions and 5 for the organizational dimension. The assumed basic factor structure of the instruments could be confirmed. With the institution-wide approach to educational development and the Learning Culture Inventory, this study can provide the basis for sustainable developmental initiatives to innovate teaching and learning at HEI. AU - Brahm, Taiga AU - Gebhardt, Anja AU - Jenert, Tobias ID - 4489 KW - higher education KW - instrument development KW - strategy KW - educational development TI - Learning culture as a prerequisite for an institution-wide approach to educational development ER -