Mark Bowden - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Mark Bowden

Research paper thumbnail of Variations in accounting students' conceptions of learning

Students' conceptions of learning or preconceived views of what learning means to students have b... more Students' conceptions of learning or preconceived views of what learning means to students have been found to play a significant role in how they choose to approach their learning. This study investigates conceptions of learning held by accounting students in their second-and third-years in university. The study is based on phenomenographic and content-analytic approaches applied to survey responses of 207 accounting students from an Australian university. In the first phase of the analysis we identify 6 learning conceptions. Learning is conceived as: (1) increase of knowledge; (2) understanding; (3) knowledge acquisition for application; (4) a pathway to success; (5) seeing in new ways; and (6) self-development. Compared to similar studies we did not find evidence of the conception 'learning as memorisation'. In contrast to prior research 'learning as understanding' emerged as a lowerorder conception of learning in accounting students in this study. In the second phase we find that, after controlling for a range of factors that are likely to affect students' conceptions of learning third-year students are more likely to adopt a higher-order conception. However, majority of the students, including third year students, continue to adopt low-order conceptions. These findings highlight the need to extend student learning beyond the acquisition of technical skills and knowledge to instil higher-order learning conceptions which underpin the development of generic skills much demanded of professional accountants. As a result, the findings of this study have implications for curriculum and assessment design, and learning and teaching practice in accounting degree programs.

Research paper thumbnail of A multiple cross-cultural comparison of approaches to learning

This study compares learning approaches of local English-speaking students and students from Asia... more This study compares learning approaches of local English-speaking students and students from Asian countries studying at an Australian metropolitan university. The sample consists of students across 13 different countries. Unlike previous studies, students from Asian countries are subdivided into two categories: students from Confucian Heritage Cultures (CHC) and students from Asia-based non-Confucian Heritage Cultures (non-CHC). The rich diversity of student background enables meaningful comparison between cultural groups. There are three key findings. Firstly, CHC and non-CHC students are more likely to adopt a deep learning approach than local English-speaking (LES) students. Secondly, CHC students show a strong tendency to simultaneously adopt surface and deep approaches to learning. This tendency also exists with non-CHC students, albeit not as strongly as in the former group. The LES students show the least tendency to adopt this mixed approach. Thirdly, memorisation appears correlated with deep learning across all three groups. The study is exploratory in nature but, if confirmed with larger samples, points to the need for further research beyond the traditional focus on CHC students on the role that memorisation and culture play in learning.

Research paper thumbnail of Regional student participation and migration: analysis of factors influencing regional student participation and internal migration in Australian higher education

We also express our gratitude to Wayne Shippley and Claire Sainsbury from the University Statisti... more We also express our gratitude to Wayne Shippley and Claire Sainsbury from the University Statistics department of the Commonwealth Department of Education and Training for their advice, support and cooperation. Wayne and Claire assisted in shaping the parameters of the Department of Education and Training data examined in this study, undertaking computations on higher education statistics data to generate the data analysed in this study, and in responding to additional requests for advice and information.

Research paper thumbnail of The importance of cultural and economic influences behind the decision to attend higher education

The Journal of Socio-Economics, 2012

This paper examines the relationship between economic and cultural variables and the decision to ... more This paper examines the relationship between economic and cultural variables and the decision to attend university. We find that a student is more likely to aspire to attend university if: they have the internet at home; are encouraged by their teachers; or attend a Catholic or independent school rather than a public school. Our analysis also suggests that the level of parent support is important (with a marginal effect larger than that for teacher encouragement) and this level of support may be linked to the parent's level of educational attainment. Importantly, we find that including cultural and economic variables in a model of students' aspirations significantly increases the power to predict when a student does not aspire to attend university.

Research paper thumbnail of Socio-economic status, cultural diversity and the aspirations of secondary students in the Western Suburbs of Melbourne, Australia

Research paper thumbnail of Web-based surveys as an alternative to traditional mail methods

Journal of Environmental Management, 2009

Environmental economists have long used surveys to gather information about people's preferences.... more Environmental economists have long used surveys to gather information about people's preferences. A recent innovation in survey methodology has been the advent of web-based surveys. While the Internet appears to offer a promising alternative to conventional survey administration modes, concerns exist over potential sampling biases associated with web-based surveys and the effect these may have on valuation estimates. This paper compares results obtained from a travel cost questionnaire of visitors to Fraser Island, Australia, that was conducted using two alternate survey administration modes; conventional mail and web-based. It is found that response rates and the socio-demographic makeup of respondents to the two survey modes are not statistically different. Moreover, both modes yield similar consumer surplus estimates.

Research paper thumbnail of Variations in accounting students' conceptions of learning

Students' conceptions of learning or preconceived views of what learning means to students have b... more Students' conceptions of learning or preconceived views of what learning means to students have been found to play a significant role in how they choose to approach their learning. This study investigates conceptions of learning held by accounting students in their second-and third-years in university. The study is based on phenomenographic and content-analytic approaches applied to survey responses of 207 accounting students from an Australian university. In the first phase of the analysis we identify 6 learning conceptions. Learning is conceived as: (1) increase of knowledge; (2) understanding; (3) knowledge acquisition for application; (4) a pathway to success; (5) seeing in new ways; and (6) self-development. Compared to similar studies we did not find evidence of the conception 'learning as memorisation'. In contrast to prior research 'learning as understanding' emerged as a lowerorder conception of learning in accounting students in this study. In the second phase we find that, after controlling for a range of factors that are likely to affect students' conceptions of learning third-year students are more likely to adopt a higher-order conception. However, majority of the students, including third year students, continue to adopt low-order conceptions. These findings highlight the need to extend student learning beyond the acquisition of technical skills and knowledge to instil higher-order learning conceptions which underpin the development of generic skills much demanded of professional accountants. As a result, the findings of this study have implications for curriculum and assessment design, and learning and teaching practice in accounting degree programs.

Research paper thumbnail of A multiple cross-cultural comparison of approaches to learning

This study compares learning approaches of local English-speaking students and students from Asia... more This study compares learning approaches of local English-speaking students and students from Asian countries studying at an Australian metropolitan university. The sample consists of students across 13 different countries. Unlike previous studies, students from Asian countries are subdivided into two categories: students from Confucian Heritage Cultures (CHC) and students from Asia-based non-Confucian Heritage Cultures (non-CHC). The rich diversity of student background enables meaningful comparison between cultural groups. There are three key findings. Firstly, CHC and non-CHC students are more likely to adopt a deep learning approach than local English-speaking (LES) students. Secondly, CHC students show a strong tendency to simultaneously adopt surface and deep approaches to learning. This tendency also exists with non-CHC students, albeit not as strongly as in the former group. The LES students show the least tendency to adopt this mixed approach. Thirdly, memorisation appears correlated with deep learning across all three groups. The study is exploratory in nature but, if confirmed with larger samples, points to the need for further research beyond the traditional focus on CHC students on the role that memorisation and culture play in learning.

Research paper thumbnail of Regional student participation and migration: analysis of factors influencing regional student participation and internal migration in Australian higher education

We also express our gratitude to Wayne Shippley and Claire Sainsbury from the University Statisti... more We also express our gratitude to Wayne Shippley and Claire Sainsbury from the University Statistics department of the Commonwealth Department of Education and Training for their advice, support and cooperation. Wayne and Claire assisted in shaping the parameters of the Department of Education and Training data examined in this study, undertaking computations on higher education statistics data to generate the data analysed in this study, and in responding to additional requests for advice and information.

Research paper thumbnail of The importance of cultural and economic influences behind the decision to attend higher education

The Journal of Socio-Economics, 2012

This paper examines the relationship between economic and cultural variables and the decision to ... more This paper examines the relationship between economic and cultural variables and the decision to attend university. We find that a student is more likely to aspire to attend university if: they have the internet at home; are encouraged by their teachers; or attend a Catholic or independent school rather than a public school. Our analysis also suggests that the level of parent support is important (with a marginal effect larger than that for teacher encouragement) and this level of support may be linked to the parent's level of educational attainment. Importantly, we find that including cultural and economic variables in a model of students' aspirations significantly increases the power to predict when a student does not aspire to attend university.

Research paper thumbnail of Socio-economic status, cultural diversity and the aspirations of secondary students in the Western Suburbs of Melbourne, Australia

Research paper thumbnail of Web-based surveys as an alternative to traditional mail methods

Journal of Environmental Management, 2009

Environmental economists have long used surveys to gather information about people's preferences.... more Environmental economists have long used surveys to gather information about people's preferences. A recent innovation in survey methodology has been the advent of web-based surveys. While the Internet appears to offer a promising alternative to conventional survey administration modes, concerns exist over potential sampling biases associated with web-based surveys and the effect these may have on valuation estimates. This paper compares results obtained from a travel cost questionnaire of visitors to Fraser Island, Australia, that was conducted using two alternate survey administration modes; conventional mail and web-based. It is found that response rates and the socio-demographic makeup of respondents to the two survey modes are not statistically different. Moreover, both modes yield similar consumer surplus estimates.