The Need for Cognition and Self-Regulated Learning in Online Environments
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2021
Department
Agriculture & Tourism
Abstract
For students to be successful in online courses, they must be able to understand and control their learning. These abilities are known as self-regulated learning which consists of cognition, metacognition, and motivation. A student’s need for cognition refers to the tendency to purposefully engage in cognitive activities. Students with high need for cognition have been found to be more intrinsically motivated to learn and put forth more effort when faced with challenging tasks. Guided by Bandura’s social cognitive theory, this study sought to describe the relationship between self-regulated learning and the need for cognition among students enrolled in an online agriculture course. The findings indicated that students are effective at structuring their learning environments and setting academic goals. Furthermore, a moderate correlation was identified between self-regulated learning and the need for cognition. Suggestions are made to research strategies and provide guidance and support for students as they engage in more online courses.
Publication Title
The CTE Journal
Recommended Citation
Swafford, M., R. Anderson, & M. Wilson. 2021. The Need for Cognition and Self-Regulated Learning in Online Environments. The CTE Journal, 9 (2):7 pages.