The Gardner’s multiple intelligences and academic performance among the second-semester mechanical engineering students in Politeknik Kuching Sarawak: A correlation analysis
List of Authors
  • Bong Nee Mel

Keyword
  • multiple intelligences, academic performance, mechanical engineering

Abstract
  • The aim of this study is to determine which intelligences are strongest and most often used by the second semester of mechanical engineering students in Politeknik Kuching Sarawak. This study also investigates the relationship between the multiple intelligences and the students’ academic performance. In addition, the gender difference in multiple intelligences also have been examined. The interactive assessment of Multiple Intelligences for Adult Literacy and Education together with the separated items for existential intelligence were used in this study. The first-semester cumulative grade point average, CGPA of respondents was used as their academic achievement’s measurement. The analysis used in this study were descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test and Pearson product-moment correlation. The overall results found that the second semester of mechanical engineering students in Politeknik Kuching Sarawak preferred to use the mathematical-logical intelligence in their study and it followed by the intrapersonal intelligence and the bodily-kinesthetic intelligence. The results showed that the verbal-linguistic, visual-spatial, mathematical-logical, bodily-kinesthetic and musical intelligence had a positive correlation with the academic performance. The analysis also showed that the interpersonal, intrapersonal, naturalist and existential intelligence were negatively correlated with the academic performance. Meanwhile, there was no statistically significant difference found in the multiple intelligences due to gender difference. This survey may have provided the important and useful information for lecturers and Department of Mechanical Engineering to help students to discover their self-knowledges, talents, and abilities from the aspect of Gardner’s multiple intelligences in their learning and co-curricular activities, so that the students can perform well in their academic and non-academic parts during their study.

Reference
  • 1. Ahvan, Y. R. & Pour, H. Z. (2016). The Correlation of Multiple Intelligences for The Achievements of Secondary Students. Educational Research and Reviews, 11(4), 141-145. https://doi.org/10.5897/ERR2015.2532

    2. Ahvan, Y. R., Zainalipour, H., Jamri, M. & Mahmoodi, F. (2016). The Correlation between Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences and the Problem-solving Styles and their Role in the Academic Performance Achievement of High School Students. European Online Journal of Natural and Social Sciences, 5(1), 32-39. http://european-science.com/eojnss/article/view/2921

    3. Armstrong, T. (n.d). Multiple Intelligences. American Institute for Learning and Human Development. https://www.institute4learning.com/resources/articles/multiple-intelligences/

    4. Aydin, H. (2019). The Effect of Multiple Intelligence(s) on Academic Success: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 15(12), em1777. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/109008

    5. Cherry, K. (2019, July 17). Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences. Very Well Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/gardners-theory-of-multiple-intelligences-2795161

    6. Cortland (2004, February 3). The 9 Intelligences of MI Theory. SUNY Cortland, The State University of New York. http://web.cortland.edu/andersmd/learning/MI%20Theory.htm.

    7. Emendu, N. B. & Udogu, M. (2013). Effect of Multiple Intelligence Teaching Strategies on Students Achievement and Retention in Chemistry. The International Journal of Engineering and Science (IJES), 2(7), 30-34. http://theijes.com/papers/v2-i7/Part.6/F0276030034.pdf

    8. Habibollah Naderi, Rohani Abdullah, Tengku Aizan Hamid & Shahrir Jamaluddin. (2010). Intelligence and Academic Achievement: An Investigation of Gender Differences. Life Science Journal, 7(1). 83-87. https://doi.org/10.7537/marslsj070110.15

    9. Hajhashemi, K., Caltabiano, N., Anderson, N. & Tabibzadeh, S. (2018). Multiple Intelligences, Motivations and Learning Experience Regarding Video-Assisted Subjects in a Rural University. International Journal of Instruction, 11(1), 167-182. https://doi.org/10.12973/iji.2018.11112a.

    10. Hernandez, C. A., Prada, R. & Rincon, G. A. (2019). Multiple Intelligences and Academic Performance in Basic Education Students: An Analysis of Main Components. Journal of Physics: Conference Series, 1388, 012047. https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/1388/1/012047

    11. Ikiz, F. E. & Cakar, F. S. (2010). The Relationship between Multiple Intelligences and Academic Achievements of Second Grade Students. GüZ Journal, 2(3), 83-92. https://dergipark.org.tr/en/download/article-file/181737.

    12. Jackson, C. (2011, September 14). Multiple Intelligence and The Engineer. Lifecycle Insights. https://www.lifecycleinsights.com/multiple-intelligences/

    13. Kandeel, Refat A. A. (2016). Multiple Intelligences Patterns among Students at King Saud University and Its Relationship with Mathematics’ Achievement. Journal of Education and Learning, 5(3), 94-106. https://doi.org/10.5539/jel.v5n3p94

    14. Madkour, M., & Mohamed, R. A. (2016). Identifying College Students’ Multiple Intelligences to Enhance Motivation and Language Proficiency. English Language Teaching, 9(6), 92-107. https://doi.org/10.5539/elt.v9n6p92

    15. Marenus, M. (2020, June 9). Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/multiple-intelligences.html.

    16. Minako Inoue. (2015). Possibility of Implementing Multiple Intelligence Theory Based English Instruction for Remedial Purposes. The Asian Conference on Education 2015. http://papers.iafor.org/wp-content/uploads/papers/ace2015/ACE2015_20091.pdf

    17. Nik Azlina & Sharifah Nina Shadzrina. (2020). Utilization of Gardner’s Multiple Intelligence Theory for School Counselling System with Usability Testing. International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering (IJRTE), 8(6), 2253-2260. https://doi.org/10.35940/ijrte.E6058.038620

    18. Salehi, M. & Germai, S. (2012). On The Relationship Between Multiple Intelligences and Achievement Among Engineering Students. English for Specific Purposes World, 12(35). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/283122739_On_the_relationship_between_multiple_intelligences_and_achievement_among_engineeringstudents_On_the_relationship_between_multiple_intelligences_and_achievement_among_engineering_students.

    19. Shelton, L., Heavenridge, P. & Beckerman, C. D. (n.d). Multiple Intelligences for Adult Literacy and Education. The Interactive Assessment: Find Your Strengths! (Assessment form originated from Dr. Terry Armstrong). Literacyworks. https://www.literacynet.org/mi/assessment/findyourstrengths.html.