Abstract
D.Phil. (Education)
The purpose of this study was to apply the "Learning and study strategies Inventory" (LASSI) on first year students in South Africa and Taiwan, Republic of China, in order to identify possible differences in their respective learning strategies. It was attempted to identify effective learning strategies for both groups. The sample consisted of 1489 first year students at the Rand Afrikaans University and 2053 first year students at the
chengchi University in Taiwan, the Republic of China. The following statistical package programmes were used in the study: ** The BMDP3D and BMDP4M programmes for factor analysis to determine cross culture comparability. The Kuder-Richardson 20 formula in the NPSO programme for item analysis and the concomitant determination of involvement. T-square and Student's t-tests for independent groups of programmes with the view of identifying possible differences between the two experimental groups.
The statistical results showed that: The two experimental culturally; v) groups are comparable cross significant differences exist in respect of the learning strategies of the two student groups. Distinction was made between the merits and problems
regarding the learning strategies in the respective countries. The most common problems in the two groups are:
1. The learning content dealt with in class is regarded as worthless.
2. Students spend too much time with friends.
3. Students experience problems with identifying the central idea when reading.
4. When writing a test they often realize that in their studies they have placed the emphasis on the less important study content