Epistemological Beliefs in Web-Based and Face-To-Face Instruction : EPISTEMOLOGICAL BELIEFS IN WEB-BASED AND FACE-TO-FACE INSTRUCTION:A STUDY AT UNIVERSITY SCIENCE MALAYSIA

Epistemology is the philosophical discipline regarding the concept of knowledge.The theory of knowledge is said to have its subject matter in the justification of believing.The study of epistemological beliefs was seen as another effective learning factor that influenced how students go about learning. These refer to beliefs of individuals have about the nature and acquisition of knowledge.Research related to students' beliefs about learning and interrelationships between such beliefs and their approaches to learning and learning outcomes has helped teachers to understand the nature of learning in tertiary settings.Therefore, this research reported in this thesis was an investigation of preservice teachers' beliefs about the nature of knowledge and learning using revised factors of Schommers' Epistemological Beliefs (EBQ)instrument (1989). Schommer's EBQ (1990) consists of five factors: Certain Knowledge, Omniscient Authority, Simple Knowledge,Innate Ability, and Quick Learning.