New Perspectives in Science Education

This study explored university students’ perceived importance of the Seven Principles of Good Practices in Undergraduate Education (SPGPUE) as proposed by Chickering and Gamson in 1987. A total of 1,706 respondents participated in the study and were grouped according to gender, year-level and classification of academic discipline. Disciplines apart from pure and applied sciences were likewise included for comparison purposes. Factorial multiple analysis of variance was employed to identify significant effects and correlation of students ranking of the SPGPUE. Results indicated that students generally perceive all of the seven principles as equally important regardless of their gender, year-level and discipline or specialization. However, closer examination using the results from tests in-between subjects effects revealed a number of significant differences such that significant correlations exist between discipline classification and cooperative learning, F(7,1636) = 2.102, p = 0.040; discipline classification and gender to cooperative learning F(24,1636) = 1.834, p = 0.008. Moreover, it was also found out that a significant difference in the rating of importance of faculty contact exists when the respondents are grouped according to gender, F(1,1750) =  9.117, p = 0.003 with female respondents expressing a higher mean rating (4.094) compared to male respondents (3.958). With respect to year level, significant difference also exists F(4, 1750) = 2.052, p = 0.049. Implications of the results of the study in the area of curriculum development and the teaching of science in undergraduate education is discussed.