Research in Higher Education

, Volume 28, Issue 3, pp 223–239 | Cite as

College students' perceptions of notetaking and their relationship to selected learner characteristics and course achievement

  • Carol A. Carrier
  • Michael D. Williams
  • Bruce R. Dalgaard
Article

Abstract

Notetaking is a universal activity in college lecture courses, but little research has been done to examine students' perceptions of this study strategy as it relates to their overall study routine. In the current study, students in a large lecture course in introductory macroeconomics were asked to complete the Notetaking Perceptions Survey (NPS), an instrument that assesses students' perceptions of the worth or value of notetaking, their perceived level of notetaking activity, and their degree of confidence about their own notetaking skill. Additionally, students' learning style, as assessed by the Learning Style Inventory (Smith and Kolb, 1986), gender, high school rank, and year of high school graduation were included as predictor variables within a multiple regression analysis to predict scores on the there notetaking perception factors. Notetaking perceptions were predicted by one of the learning style dimensions and by gender. The relationships of final course grades with the three notetaking factors from the NPS and the other learner characteristics were also determined. Grades were predicted by one of the notetaking perception factors and by high school rank.

Keywords

Regression Analysis High School College Student Predictor Variable School Graduation 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Annis, Linda F., and Davis, J. Kent (1978). Study techniques and cognitive style: Their effect on recall and recognition.Journal of Educational Research 71: 175–78.Google Scholar
  2. Berliner, David C. (1969). The effects of test-like events and note taking on learning from lecture instruction.Dissertation Abstracts International 28: 3864A. (University Microfilms No. 69-09152).Google Scholar
  3. Berliner, David C. (1971). Attribute-treatment interactions in two studies of learning from lecture instruction. Berkeley, CA: Far West Laboratory for Educational Research & Development. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 046 249.)Google Scholar
  4. Berliner, David C. (1972). The generalizability of attribute-treatment interactions across subject matter. Berkeley, CA: Far West Laboratory for Educational Research & Development. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. Ed 062 642.)Google Scholar
  5. Blackburn, Robert T., Pellino, G. R., Boberg, A., and O'Connell, C. (1980). “Are instructional programs off-target?”Current Issues in Higher Education, No. 1, pp. 32–48. Washington, D.C.: American Association for Higher Education.Google Scholar
  6. Carrier, Carol (1983). Notetaking research.Journal of Instructional Development 6(3): 19–26.Google Scholar
  7. Carrier, Carol, and Newell, Kathy (1984). What dental hygiene students think about notetaking: Report of a survey.Canadian Dental Hygienist 18(1): 13–17.Google Scholar
  8. Carrier, Carol, Newell, Kathy, and Lange, Allen (1982). The relationship of learning style to preferences for instructional strategies.Journal of Dental Education 46(11): 652–56.Google Scholar
  9. Carrier, Carol, and Williams, Michael D. (1988). Research on study strategies: Notetaking practices. Paper presented at the meeting of the Association for Educational Communications and Technology, New Orleans, January.Google Scholar
  10. Carter, John F., and Van Matre, Nicholas H. (1975). Notetaking versus notehaving.Journal of Educational Psychology 67: 900–904.Google Scholar
  11. Daly, Kathleen Lonze (1983). The effect of training college students in listening and notetaking skills on learning from a lecture.Dissertation Abstracts International 44: 3665A. (University Microfilms No. 84-04, 142.)Google Scholar
  12. Driskell, Jeanette Lynn, and Kelly, Edward L. (1980). A guided note taking and study skill system for use with university freshmen predicted to fail.Journal of Reading 25: 327–331.Google Scholar
  13. Educational Testing Service (1979). Student instructional report: Comparative data guide for four-year colleges and universities. Princeton, NJ.Google Scholar
  14. Fisk, Elizabeth Chaplin (1982). A sociolinguistic study of notetaking in a college lecture classroom.Dissertation Abstracts International 43: 1814A. (University Microfilms No. 82-26, 295.)Google Scholar
  15. Ganske, Ludwig (1981). Note-taking: A significant and integral part of learning environments.Educational Communications and Technology Journal 29: 155–175.Google Scholar
  16. Glass, Gene V. (1987). What works: Politics and research.Educational Researcher 16(3): 5–10.Google Scholar
  17. Hartley, James (1976). Lecture handouts and student notetaking.Programmed Learning and Educational Technology 13: 58–64.Google Scholar
  18. Kiewra, Kenneth Anthony, and Fletcher, Harold J. (1984). The relationship between levels of notetaking and achievement.Human Learning 3: 273–280.Google Scholar
  19. Lacroix, Phyllis S. (1987). The effects of cognitive style, notetaking, and instructor-prepared handout materials on learning from lecture instruction. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Minnesota.Google Scholar
  20. Maccoby, Eleanor E., and Jacklin, Carol N. (1974).The Psychology of Sex Differences. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.Google Scholar
  21. McDonald, R. J., and Taylor, E. G. (1980). Student note-taking and lecture handouts in veterinary medical education.Journal of Veterinary Medical Education 7: 157–161.Google Scholar
  22. Neter, John, Wasserman, William, and Kutner, Michael H. (1985).Applied Linear Statistical Models (2nd ed.). Homewood, IL: Richard D. Irwin.Google Scholar
  23. Nye, Pauline A. (1978). Student variables in relation to notetaking during a lecture.Programmed Learning and Educational Technology 15: 196–200.Google Scholar
  24. Palkovitz, Robin J., and Lore, Richard K. (1980). Note taking and note review: Why students fail questions based on lecture material.Teaching of Psychology 7: 159–161.Google Scholar
  25. Peck, Kyle L., and Hannafin, Michael J. (1983). The effects of notetaking pretraining and the recording of notes on the retention of aural instruction.Journal of Educational Research 77: 100–107.Google Scholar
  26. Rohwer, William D., Jr. (1984). An invitation to an educational psychology of studying.Educational Psychologist 19: 1–14.Google Scholar
  27. Smith, D. M., and Kolb, D. A. (1986).User's Guide for the Learning Style Inventory. Boston: McBer and Company.Google Scholar
  28. SPSSx User's Guide, 2nd ed. (1986). New York: McGraw-Hill.Google Scholar
  29. Thielens, Wagner (1985). The lecture's grip. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Chicago.Google Scholar

Copyright information

© Agathon Press, Inc. 1988

Authors and Affiliations

  • Carol A. Carrier
    • 1
  • Michael D. Williams
    • 1
  • Bruce R. Dalgaard
    • 1
  1. 1.College of EducationUniversity of MinnesotaMinneapolis

Personalised recommendations