Pattern of cognitive styles and selection of academic majors among graduates of religious and secular schools
The differences in cognitive style, school background and selection of the academic major were investigated by examining: (a) the pattern of cognitive styles among graduates from religious and secular schools, and (b) their intended selection of academic major prior to entering universi...
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| Format: | Article |
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Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia
2009
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| Online Access: | http://journalarticle.ukm.my/3410/ http://journalarticle.ukm.my/3410/ |
| Summary: | The differences in cognitive style, school background and selection of the
academic major were investigated by examining: (a) the pattern of cognitive
styles among graduates from religious and secular schools, and (b) their
intended selection of academic major prior to entering university.
Matriculation students of Malay background (237 students from religious
schools and 214 from secular schools) in selected matriculation centres in
Malaysia who completed the GEFT (Group Embedded Figure Test) and a self-
rated questionnaire were selected. The main result shows that there was no
significant difference in cognitive styles of the respondents based on the school
type. Using the contrast analyses, respondents who planned to major in Health
and Technology scored higher in GEFT than those wishing to major in Arts
and Law. It was also found that respondents graduated from secular schools
and planned to major in Commerce were more field independent than those
prospective Law major: Congruence of choice of academic major and the
cognitive style orientation among respondents was then discussed.
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