Maria Chong Abdullah

Assessing students approaches to learning using a matrix framework in a Malaysian public university

This study aims to evaluate the learning characteristics of students using a matrix framework of learning approaches (MFLA) in a Malaysian public university. A survey form based on Biggs’s study process questionnaire (SPQ) was distributed to a total of 350 students. This study employed a descriptive correlation research design to address the research objectives. The findings revealed that Malaysian students are prone to applying the achieving approach in their studies. The achieving approach is the most preferable learning characteristic. The results also indicated that four of the nine hypothetical learning approaches exist, two of which are positive in nature. As a result, a proposed teaching method based on the MFLA was introduced to suit the needs of these major learning characteristics among students.

Narcissism as Predictor of Facebook Usage Among Students in a Malaysian Public University

The emergence of social networking site such as Facebook (FB) has earned notable popularity among university students. As such, this study is made important and vital as there is a staggering population among undergraduate students in Malaysia who participate in FB activities. Based on the Hyperpersonal Computer-Mediated Communication (CMC) Model, this study aims to investigate the relationship between narcissism and FB usage among students enrolled in a Malaysian public university. The level and gender differences in FB usage were also examined. In this study, 302 students from the Faculty of Educational Study in one of the public universities were selected as participants in the study. Employing a correlational research design, two sets of research instruments comprising of Facebook Intensity Scale (FBI) and Narcissism Personality Inventory-16 (NPI-16) were utilized to address the research objectives. Findings from this study showed significant and positive correlation between narcissism and FB usage in terms of number of FB friends, time spent on FB, and emotional connectedness to FB, while no significant differences were found between male and female students in relation to FB usage. In conclusion, narcissism possessed by undergraduates is found to contribute to their participation in FB activities regardless of their gender differences.

Do family environment, parental care and adolescent externalizing problem mediate the relationship between parental readiness and adolescent school performance among commuter families?

ABSTRACT The lifestyle of commuter families has become a concern in Malaysian society. Commuting and separation from nuclear families may result in negative impacts on the commuters and their families. This study aimed to investigate the relationships among family environment, parental care, parental readiness, and adolescent externalizing problems and adolescent school performance among commuter families by proposing a mediation model. A total of 434 respondents (dyadic-relation) from commuter families in Peninsular Malaysia completed a set of questionnaires. Model comparison showed that the mediation model was established with an acceptable fit index. Findings reported that parental care and family environment were significantly partial mediated the relationship between parental readiness and adolescent academic performance. However, adolescent externalizing problem was not statistically significant. The findings accounted 38% of the variability in adolescent academic performance explained by the model with total effect 0.69. Results suggests the importance of families’ roles and functions in adolescent school performance. It supports the theoretical backgroud of the research which explains the effect of family functions and parental roles in adolescent development and school performance. Parental roles need to be addressed to ensure commuting families play a parenting responsibilities in adolescent development and create a work-family balance situation.