Authority-Boundness as a Constitutive Aspect of Syllabus-Boundness among Higher Education Students

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Authority-Boundness as a Constitutive Aspect of Syllabus-Boundness among Higher Education Students
Language: English
Authors: Englund, Hans (ORCID 0000-0003-3676-5155), Stockhult, Helen (ORCID 0000-0002-5149-0092)
Source: Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research. 2023 67(3):406-418.
Availability: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 13
Publication Date: 2023
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Postsecondary Education
Descriptors: College Students, Student Attitudes, Power Structure, Course Descriptions, School Attitudes, Authoritarianism, Foreign Countries, Teacher Student Relationship, Teacher Role, Expectation, Student Motivation
Geographic Terms: Sweden
DOI: 10.1080/00313831.2021.2021442
ISSN: 0031-3831
1470-1170
Abstract: Syllabus-boundness constitutes an important attribute of a so-called surface approach to learning, whereby students are seen as highly assessment-oriented, doing what is minimally required from them, and wanting well-organized courses and clear instructions. When this concept emerged in the late 1960ies, it was linked to a discussion on issues of authoritarianism and the ways in which the boundaries of the syllabus are tightly linked to authoritative knowledge and authority figures. However, over the years, this particular aspect of syllabus-boundness has largely faded away in the literature. Based on this turn in the literature, the purpose of this paper is twofold, namely: (1) To argue for a reintroduction of issues related to authoritarianism into the debate on syllabus-boundness, and (2) Based on a qualitative study of higher education students at a Swedish university, to identify and discuss how the conceptual borders of syllabus-boundness can be widened to include aspects of authority-boundness.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2023
Accession Number: EJ1385987
Database: ERIC
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Abstract:Syllabus-boundness constitutes an important attribute of a so-called surface approach to learning, whereby students are seen as highly assessment-oriented, doing what is minimally required from them, and wanting well-organized courses and clear instructions. When this concept emerged in the late 1960ies, it was linked to a discussion on issues of authoritarianism and the ways in which the boundaries of the syllabus are tightly linked to authoritative knowledge and authority figures. However, over the years, this particular aspect of syllabus-boundness has largely faded away in the literature. Based on this turn in the literature, the purpose of this paper is twofold, namely: (1) To argue for a reintroduction of issues related to authoritarianism into the debate on syllabus-boundness, and (2) Based on a qualitative study of higher education students at a Swedish university, to identify and discuss how the conceptual borders of syllabus-boundness can be widened to include aspects of authority-boundness.
ISSN:0031-3831
1470-1170
DOI:10.1080/00313831.2021.2021442