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Internet-specific epistemic beliefs and self-regulated learning in online academic information searching

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Abstract

Epistemic beliefs have been considered as important components of the self-regulatory model; however, their relationships with self-regulated learning processes in the Internet context need further research. The main purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between Internet-specific epistemic belief dimensions and self-regulated learning activities while using the Internet for academic information searching. A total of 758 university students were sampled in this study. Through factor analyses, four dimensions of Internet-specific epistemic beliefs were identified, labeled as certainty of Internet-based knowledge, simplicity of Internet-based knowledge, source of Internet-based knowledge, and justification for Internet-based knowing. Factor analyses also revealed two dimensions of self-regulated learning while using the Internet for academic searching, namely preparatory self-regulated learning (i.e., task definition as well as goal setting and planning) and enactment self-regulated learning (i.e., controlling, monitoring, and reflecting). The results of the structural relationship analysis indicated that the preparatory phase of self-regulated learning positively correlated with Internet-specific epistemic beliefs relating to justification for Internet-based knowing, and was also negatively associated with two other dimensions of Internet-specific epistemic beliefs regarding simplicity of Internet-based knowledge and source of Internet-based knowledge. In addition, preparatory self-regulated learning mediated the relationships between these three dimensions of Internet-specific epistemic beliefs and the enactment phase of self-regulated learning.

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Acknowledgement

This study was supported by the National Science Council, Taiwan, under grant number NSC-99-2511-S-011-005-MY3, NSC-99-2511-S-011-008-MY3 and NSC-100-2511-S-011-004-MY3.

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  1. Graduate Institute of Digital Learning and Education, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, #43, Sec. 4, Keelung Rd., Taipei 106, Taiwan

    Yen-Lin Chiu & Chin-Chung Tsai

  2. Graduate Institute of Applied Science and Technology, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, #43, Sec. 4, Keelung Rd., Taipei 106, Taiwan

    Jyh-Chong Liang

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  1. Yen-Lin Chiu
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Appendices

Appendix A

Table 4 Exploratory factor analysis for ISEQ
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Appendix B

Table 5 Exploratory factor analysis for SRL
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Appendix C

Table 6 Confirmatory factor analysis for ISEQ and SRL
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Chiu, YL., Liang, JC. & Tsai, CC. Internet-specific epistemic beliefs and self-regulated learning in online academic information searching. Metacognition Learning 8, 235–260 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11409-013-9103-x

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