@article {389,
	title = {UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION: A GAP ANALYSIS OF STUDENTS{\textquoteright} EXPECTATIONS AND SATISFACTION},
	journal = {Problems of Education in the 21st Century },
	volume = {21},
	year = {2010},
	month = {June/2010},
	type = {Original article},
	chapter = {21-28},
	abstract = {Students{\textquoteright} experience and satisfaction influence student retention rate and contribute directly to the building of good reputation of a university. The student retention rate is likely to be high if their expectations are met. Thus it is not surprising that universities continue to conduct regular surveys concerning students{\textquoteright} expectations and perceptions as part of their quality improvement exercise. This study looked at the various aspects of undergraduate students{\textquoteright} experience pursuing an economics program in a public university in Malaysia. Gap analysis was employed to examine the difference between students{\textquoteright} expectations and satisfaction level for a given statement related to academic as well as non-academic life. The two most important aspects ranked by the students concern lecturers{\textquoteright} knowledge in their respective field and the students{\textquoteright} sense of pride about the faculty are also the aspects in which they are most satisfied. Generally the students{\textquoteright} expectation of the faculty is very high and the gap scores indicate statistical significance for all items related to teaching and learning, faculty life as well as facilities and support services.
},
	keywords = {economics program, gap analysis, undergraduate study},
	issn = {1822-7864},
	url = {http://oaji.net/articles/2014/457-1400135515.pdf},
	author = {Halimah Awang and Noor Ismail}
}
@article {340,
	title = {AN ANALYSIS OF SMOKING BEHAVIOUR AMONG SCHOOLING ADOLESCENTS},
	journal = {Problems of Education in the 21st Century },
	volume = {18},
	year = {2009},
	month = {December/2009},
	type = {Original article},
	chapter = {80-85},
	abstract = {This paper examines the extent of cigarette smoking among 16 year old adolescents in Malaysian secondary schools. In particular, it examines the determining factors of smoking behaviours across several characteristics of the students and selected variables related to their aspirations and ambitions. A total of 4404 students participated in the survey comprising 1966 males and 2438 females. Overall, 13 percent of the respondents admitted to cigarette smoking. The proportion of smokers among males is 27 percent compared with two percent of the females. Almost 25 percent started smoking at 12 years or younger and that 35 percent smoked at least six cigarettes daily. The main reasons for smoking include stress and emotional problems, peer as well as parental influence. The data also showed the number of cigarettes smoked per day significantly increased with increasing hours students spent their time at the school library but decreased with increasing hours students spent on computers. Several variables related to the aspirations and ambitions were found to have significant influence on the number of cigarettes smoked per day among the adolescent smokers. },
	keywords = {aspirations, cigarette smoking, schooling adolescents},
	issn = {1822-7864},
	url = {http://oaji.net/articles/2014/457-1399916001.pdf},
	author = {Fatimah  Hashim and Halimah Awang and Zahari  Ishak}
}
@article {174,
	title = {ASSESSING THE EFFECTS OF STUDENTS{\textquoteright} CHARACTERISTICS AND ATTITUDES ON MATHEMATICS PERFORMANCE},
	journal = {Problems of Education in the 21st Century },
	volume = {9},
	year = {2008},
	month = {November/2008},
	type = {Original article},
	chapter = {34-41},
	abstract = {This paper analyzes mathematics performance of grade eight students using Malaysian data drawn from Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study 2003. In particular it examines the effects of students{\textquoteright} characteristics and attitudes towards mathematics learning on their achievement. Background information including gender of students, parents{\textquoteright} education level and whether students speak the language of test at home are assessed in terms of their influence on mathematics score. The number of books in home, availability of study desks and computers in home are categorized as educational resources while students{\textquoteright} attitude takes into account students{\textquoteright} educational aspirations, their perception of being safe in school, time spent on mathematics homework, self-confidence in learning mathematics and the value students place on mathematics. Chi-squared tests and odds ratios are used to examine the associations and strength of the relationships of these factors with mathematics achievement. The results show that except for gender, language spoken at home and time spent on mathematics homework, all of the other variables have significant positive influence in classifying students to low, medium and high achievers. },
	keywords = {attitudes towards mathematics learning, mathematics achievement, mathematics knowledge},
	issn = {1822-7864},
	url = {http://oaji.net/articles/2014/457-1392298052.pdf},
	author = {Noor Ismail and Halimah Awang}
}
