AN EXAMINATION OF THE INTERRELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN WORKLOAD, STUDY TIME, LEARNING APPROACHES AND ACADEMIC OUTCOMES

Interrelationships between learning approaches, study motivation, hour s of study, perceived workload English language ability and grade poin t average were investigated. A total of 174 students, who had enrolled in a mechanical engineering degree course, completed a study diary fo r I week. The diary was divided into hourly recording periods with spa ces for both quantitative and qualitative responses. The quantitative data yielded variables for learning approaches and motivations, Englis h ability, perceived workload time spent in class, time spent on priva te study and grade point average. These variables were linked in a pat h model. Case-studies were used to illustrate and explain the model. T he variables in the model were weakly interrelated. Perceived workload therefore, depends upon motivation as well as the amount of work. Gra de point average did improve somewhat with hours of work, but students could work! long hours and still obtain poor grades because they used inappropriate learning approaches.