Developing of factor structure for learning strategies of Estonian students in mathematics at the university level

Abstract

This research reports learning strategies of the first-year Estonian university students in mathematics. The data were collected during two years from 440 university students of different disciplines. The respondents were among students who take at least one compulsory mathematics course during their first study year. The participants filled out a Likert-type questionnaire that was developed using previously published instruments. The aim of this research was to examine the 69-item LIST questionnaire first time for Estonian university students. By means of an exploratory factor analysis, 9 factors out of 12 were confirmed. The research confirmed most of the components identified in earlier studies. It validates the use of the instrument in further studies of learning strategies at the university level in Estonia. This gives a positive signal about the usefulness of the instrument, as the component structure remains stable in different populations.