An investigation concerning the process of development of epistemological beliefs among high school students and its relationships with their academic performance

The purpose of this research was the comparison between epistemological beliefs of the students in the first high school to pre-university, and also to consider the relationship of these beliefs with their academic performance. For gathering the data in the field of four general beliefs of the students such as the nature of the knowledge and learning in one time I used the survey method with the sectional method. All the girls and the boys of Yazd schools in 89-90 were statistical population. Sample size of this study is 690 people. I used Schommer's questionnaire who reviewed by Edward Bayless for gathering the data. Using the T and F test, the results of data analysis demonstrated that between the belief of the first, second, third and pre-university students about the simple Knowledge, certain knowledge, quick learning and certain ability was significantly different. It demonstrated the significant difference between epistemological beliefs of the girl and the boy students, too. While epistemological beliefs of the students on academic field and the type of the school didnt demonstrate significant difference. The results of the analysis of the multiple regression demonstrated that the most important predictor factor of the academic performance of high school students is simple knowledge. Based on the findings, since the epistemological beliefs are associated with academic performance of students I recommended the teachers to promote these beliefs.