The Effect of cooperative learning on student attribution, performance and use of learning strategies and interaction patterns in cooperative learning groups

xu ABSRACT The Effect of Cooperative Learning on Student Attribution, Performance and Use of Learning Strategies and Interaction Patterns in Cooperative Learning Groups. The purpose of present research is to investigate effect of cooperative learning and traditional teaching methods on student attributions, performance and use of learning strategies and interaction patterns in cooperative groups. Pretest-posttest research design with control group has been used in the research. The research has been conducted on Experiment 1 and Experiment 2. Cooperative learning has been used in experimental groups, traditional teaching methods in control groups. The research has been conducted at a high school which has a middle class socio-economic level. The students have been chosen among the students of the teacher who is the volunteer in the research. Data have been gathered by achievement tests, Scale of Success/Faiule Attributions, Scale of Use of Learning Strategies in Biology and in-dept interview records. Mean, Standart Deviation, t-Test, Paired t-Test, Analysis of Variance, Sheffe Test has been used in the analysis of quantitative data whereas interview records have been analysed after coded by coders. At the end of the research it has been found out that cooperative learning methods have increased the students' achievement in biology lessons. While the students have attibuted their successes to the teacher and their failure to the families in Experiment 1, in Experiment 2 the students have attributed their success and failure depending on whether they have had keep from the teacher. In Experiment 1, it has been found out that cooperative learning has affected the students' attributions, and in Experiment 2 it hasn't affected. It has been observed that cooperative learning does not change the learning strategies of the students much but strategies of the students much but some techniques may have effects on learning strategies. In cooperative learning groups, the students generally order to one another and they have desire to direct the group so much. It has been found out that these attitudes were demonstrated more by external students than internal students. Key Words: Cooperative Learning, Success/Failure Attributions, Learning Strategies, Biology Teaching