Research Seminar

TITLE: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEARNER

AUTONOMY AND STUDENTS ACADEMIC
ACHIEVEMENT AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS IN
A PRIVATE INSTITUTION

SYAZALINAH BINTI WASLI

 INTRODUCTION
O Learner autonomy has become a central concern in a way of
learning (Fumin, F. (2012). Teachers' Roles in Promoting Students' Learner Autonomy in China. English Language
Teaching, 51-56)

O It is an important symbol in the successful reform of teaching

mode for the students to form their individual learning patterns
and develop their autonomy in study. (ZHANG Rong-gen (2011) An Analysis of Research in
English Learner Autonomy of College Students)

O It shows a positive influence to the growth of target language

when learner autonomy is executed in the learning process (Little,
D. (2008). Knowledge about language and learner autonomy. In J. C. (Eds), Encyclopedia of Language and Education (pp. 247-
258). New York: Springer Science)
BACKGROUND OF THE RESEARCH
O Meaningful learning is where the learner chooses conscientiously to
integrate new knowledge to knowledge that the learner already
possesses (Novak J. , 2002)

O Learner who are autonomous have locus of control in learning; an

individuals belief system regarding the causes of his or her
experience and the factors to which that person attributes success or
failure (Barzegar, 2011)

Previous research:
Personal Goal-setting and Autonomy in Language Learning by TOMOKO KODA-DALLOW AND MOIRA HOBBS, 2005
Relationship Between Learner Autonomy and English Language Proficiency of Japanese Learners by Shien Sakai and Akiko Takagi, 2009
 PROBLEM STATEMENT
O Students who are autonomous have locus of control in
learning; an individuals belief system regarding the causes
of his or her experience and the factors to which that person
attributes success or failure (Barzegar, 2011).

O With the promulgation of College English Teaching

Requirement (on Trial) by Department of Higher Education in
2004, it is one of teaching aims in college English teaching
to strengthen learner autonomy of college students (Zhang,
2011)
 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
The research objectives of this research are as follows:

i. To determine the level of Learners Autonomy among college

students in a private institution.
ii. To examine whether there is any significant difference
between Learners Autonomy and demographic variable
(gender, programme & age).
iii. To examine the relationship between Learners Autonomy and
Academic Achievement among college students in a private
institution.
 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The research questions of this study are as follows:

i. What is the level of learners autonomy among college

students in a private institution.?
ii. Are there any significant differences in learner autonomy
between Learners Autonomy and demographic variable (age,
gender & programme)?
iii. Is there any correlation between Learners Autonomy and
Academic Achievement among college students in a private
institution?
SIGFINICANCE OF THE RESEARCH
O Educators and administrators can identify potential issues
that arise when learners autonomy is not develop in oneself
and educators especially can have better understanding in
order to rise and promotes learner autonomy in language
learning among students.
O Beneficial not only for stakeholders but to the students as
well, as it helps them to be autonomous in learning.
O It will help in developing new methods or techniques in order
to enhance students capability and ability especially in
learning.
 REVIEW OF LITERATURE
O Based on (Holec, 1981) cited in (Little D. , 2010), he stated that
learner autonomy can be classified as the capability of that
person to take in charge of ones own learning.
O Based on (Fumin, 2012) , learner autonomy has become a
central concern in a way of learning as it promotes a life-long
learning and at the same time expanding the attention in learning
particularly when teaching methods are moved to a more learner-
centred approach and unrestrained.
O Students who are autonomous have locus of control in learning;
an individuals belief system regarding the causes of his or her
experience and the factors to which that person attributes
success or failure (Barzegar, 2011).
 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
O The concept of learner autonomy may be a relatively new addition to the canon of
adult learning theory, however, it is founded upon a solid foundation of theory: Houle
(1961); Knowles (1980), Bandura (1978); Spear & Mocker (1984); Tough (1971) and
Long (1992).

O Autonomy is the ability to take charge of ones own learning (Holec, 1981).

O This paper chooses Holecs definition of learner autonomy, which covers the following
five items: goal setting, content and progress setting, learning techniques selecting,
monitoring progress and evaluating learning results.

O The reasons for choosing Holecs definition of learner autonomy may consist in its
holistic view of the learner that requires us to engage with the cognitive, meta-
cognitive, affective and social dimensions of language learning.
 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK
Age

Learners Academic
Autonomy Achievement Gender

Programme
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Quantitative approach

Descriptive-correlational research

Survey method

To examine the correlational

 RESEARCH INSTRUMENT
O Questionnaire is utilised for date collection of this study
O Items are adopted from ZHANG Rong-gen (2011); An Analysis of
Research in English Learner Autonomy of College Students.
O The questionnaire consist of 2 parts:
i. Demographic data including age, gender, programme & current
CGPA.
ii. Questionnaire: 29 items (goal setting, content and progress
setting, learning techniques selecting, monitoring progress and
evaluating learning results)
 POPULATION & SAMPLE
O The population of this study are the under-graduate students at
Kolej Universiti Poly-Tech MARA, Kuala Lumpur.

O This study employed two-stage random sampling which combines

cluster random sampling, followed by individual random sampling
to select a sample. (The advantages of this technique are it can be employed when it is difficult to select a
random sample of individual, easier to implement in college setting and less time consuming (Fraenkel and Wallen, 2009).

O These respondents are among KUPTM, KL from semester 2,3,4

and 5 students which includes 4 programme (TESL, Accountancy,
Computer-Science, Business & Human-Resource) 40 respondents for each
programme & 10 respondents for each semester.
 DATA ANALYSIS
RESEARCH QUESTION
i. What is the level of learners
autonomy among college students in
a private institution.?
ii. Are there any significant
differences in learner autonomy
between Learners Autonomy and
demographic variable (age, gender &
programme)?
iii. Is there any correlation between
Learners Autonomy and Academic
Achievement among college students
in a private institution?
INTRUMENTS ANALYSIS
Questionnaire -Data is analyzed to the frequency
(percentage), mean and standard
deviation for each item
Questionnaire -Data is analyzed to the frequency
(percentage), mean and standard
deviation for each item
-Pearson-correlation
Questionnaire -Data is analyzed to the frequency
(percentage), mean and standard
deviation for each item
-Pearson-correlation