Changes in learner beliefs through classroom instructions : Two case studies

Abstract

Two case studies are reported on changes in learner beliefs. The first study looked into the changes in beliefs about the importance of learning text organization reported by students enrolled in a writing class. Although there was not a drastic change, some learners showed positive changes in their views; the learners who undervalued the importance of text organization at the beginning of the course eventually came to value it. However there were also learners who changed toward a negative direction; they lowered their estimated value of text organization. In the second study, changes in learners' views about a particular method of learning, i.e., reading aloud, were analyzed. Data on Iwo aspects of learners' beliefs which relate to the motivational concepts of value and expectancy were collected at Iwo times. Again, as in the first study, there were negative as well as positive changes.