Activity Achievement Emotions and Academic Performance: A Meta-analysis

Unlocking academic success: How growth mindset interventions enhance student performance through self-belief and effort regulation

This research investigates how growth mindset interventions, including internal and external subscales, affect academic performance in rural Chinese schools. The research focuses on two mediators: self-belief and effort regulation. The study design adopts a purposive sample method to avoid bias, with data collected at two lags from 324 students. The data was analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) with Smart PLS. The findings indicate that internal and external growth mindsets have no direct impact on academic performance. However, their mediating effects via self-belief and effort regulation have a considerable and positive influence on academic performance. This demonstrates that the suggested mechanism makes a significant contribution. The results show that a growth mindset promotes self-efficacy and effort-regulation, which improves students' academic performance, especially in rural schooling. Theoretically, this study enhances growth mindset theory by defining mediating mechanisms in a distinct rural environment, extending established models to unexplored educational contexts. In practice, our findings give practical insights for educators and policymakers, promoting culturally relevant interventions such as teacher training and targeted student workshops to enhance academic performance via self-regulatory behaviors.

How Malpractice and Error Cases Influence Information Recall in General Practice Residents, a Vignette Study

Purpose

Integrating diagnostic error and malpractice cases into clinical reasoning education may enhance diagnostic reasoning by highlighting atypical presentations and diagnostic risks in complex contexts. While emotionally engaging, these cases might also affect information retention. This study examines how malpractice, error, and neutral case presentations influence recall for different information types and their interaction with learners' interest, satisfaction and anxiety levels.

Methods

In this two-phase between-subjects experiment, 89 first-year general practice (GP) residents reviewed four clinical vignettes in either malpractice, diagnostic error, or neutral formats. Vignettes were structurally identical, with claim-related details in malpractice versions replaced by general medical information in others. Anxiety was measured pre- and post-exercise. After a one-hour filler task, participants completed a free recall task, and their interest and satisfaction levels were assessed. Recalled idea units (clinical case-specific, medical-theoretical, claim-specific) were analyzed using ANOVAs.

Results

Anxiety, interest, and satisfaction levels remained similar across conditions. The proportion of total recalled idea units did not differ significantly (malpractice 11.38%, neutral 12.91%, error 13.12% p = 0.57). However, malpractice participants recalled fewer clinical case-specific units (malpractice 12.19%, neutral 19.43%, error 15.87% p = 0.007) while recalling more claim-specific units compared to medical-theoretical units in the other conditions (malpractice 7.23%, neutral 0.42%, error 1.3% p < 0.001).

Conclusion

GP residents retained fewer clinical case-specific details from malpractice claim vignettes than from neutral vignettes, with the missing information substituted by claim-specific details, without an increase in anxiety or interest. Further research is needed to understand the long-term impact of these differences on future diagnostic accuracy in clinical practice.

Investigating the psychometric properties of the Persian version of Psychological Emptiness Scale (PES) among nursing students

BACKGROUND

Psychological emptiness plays a significant role in the mental health of nursing students. However, there is currently no valid Persian instrument for measuring psychological emptiness in Iranian nursing students.

AIM

This study aimed to translate and investigate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Psychological Emptiness Scale among Iranian nursing students.

METHODS

In this methodological study, after translating and assessing the face and content validity of the Persian version of the Psychological Emptiness Scale, 400 nursing students were selected through proportional quota sampling from four nursing and midwifery colleges affiliated with Birjand University of Medical Sciences in 2024. The factorial structure of the measure was assessed using exploratory factor analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis was then undertaken. Finally, the reliability, including internal consistency and test-retest reliability, and the convergent and divergent validity of the measure were evaluated.

RESULTS

The results of exploratory factor analysis revealed that a three-factor structure accounted for 60.20% of the total variance. The results of the CFA revealed that the three-factor model of the Persian version of the Psychological Emptiness Scale had good or acceptable fit indices. The reliability of the total scale was calculated with a Cronbach's α coefficient of 0.949, McDonald's omega of 0.949, and ICC of 0.840, suggesting acceptable reliability. Results also showed that the convergent and divergent validity of the measure were satisfactory.

CONCLUSION

The findings of this study suggest that the Persian version of the 19-item PES is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing psychological emptiness in Iranian nursing students.

How Similar Are Students' Aggregated State Emotions to Their Self-Reported Trait Emotions? Results from a Measurement Burst Design Across Three School Years

Students' emotions in the classrom are highly dynamic and thus typically strongly vary from one moment to the next. Methodologies like experience sampling and daily diaries have been increasingly used to capture these momentary emotional states and its fluctuations. A recurring question is to what extent aggregated state ratings of emotions over a longer period of time are similar to self-reported traits of emotions. Thus, this study aims to investigate the extent of similarity between students' aggregated emotional states and self-reported traits over a two-week period in three consecutive school years (N T1 = 149, average ageT1 = 15.64 years). Six discrete emotions (enjoyment, anger, pride, anxiety, shame, and boredom) were assessed in German, English, French, and mathematics classes. We investigated similarity in terms of convergence, mean-level differences, long-term stability, and incremental predictive validity of aggregated states and self-reported traits. Results indicated substantial convergence between aggregated states and self-reported traits, with both showing similar long-term stability. However, aggregated states did not demonstrate superior predictive validity compared to self-reported traits for academic outcomes, while momentary assessments offer insights into short-term emotional fluctuations, on a person-aggregated level aggregated states and self-reported traits behave rather similarly. This suggests that both can be used interchangeably to study students' trait-related research questions, like interindividual differences or long-term emotional processes in educational settings.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10648-025-09995-1.

Behavioral Dynamics Analysis in Language Education: Generative State Transitions and Attention Mechanisms

This study proposes a novel approach for analyzing learning behaviors in Chinese language education by integrating generative attention mechanisms and generative state transition equations. This method dynamically adjusts attention weights and models real-time changes in students' emotional and behavioral states, addressing key limitations of existing approaches. A central innovation is the introduction of a generative loss function, which jointly optimizes sentiment prediction and behavior analysis, enhancing the adaptability of the model to diverse learning scenarios. This study is based on empirical experiments involving student behavior tracking, sentiment analysis, and personalized learning path modeling. Experimental results demonstrate this method's effectiveness, achieving an accuracy of 90.6%, recall of 88.4%, precision of 89.3%, and F1-score of 88.8% in behavioral prediction tasks. Furthermore, this approach attains a learning satisfaction score of 89.2 with a 94.3% positive feedback rate, significantly outperforming benchmark models such as BERT, GPT-3, and T5. These findings validate the practical applicability and robustness of the proposed method, offering a structured framework for personalized teaching optimization and dynamic behavior modeling in Chinese language education.

Spiritual boredom is associated with over- and underchallenge, lack of value, and reduced motivation

The emotion of boredom has attracted considerable research interest. However, boredom experienced in spiritual contexts (i.e., spiritual boredom) has rarely been investigated. Based on control-value theory (CVT), we investigated the occurrence, antecedents, and motivational effects of spiritual boredom in five different spiritual contexts: yoga, meditation, silence retreats, Catholic sermons, and pilgrimage. For each context, we conducted two independent studies, one including trait and another including state measures. The set of 10 studies included a total sample of N = 1267 adults. We complemented individual study results with an internal meta-analysis. The results showed a mean level of spiritual boredom ofM ¯  = 1.91 on a scale of 1 to 5. In line with CVT, spiritual boredom was positively related to being overchallenged (r ¯  = 0.44) in 9 out of the 10 studies and positively related to being underchallenged (r ¯  = 0.44) in all studies. Furthermore, as expected, spiritual boredom was negatively related to perceived value in all studies (r ¯  = -0.54). Finally, boredom was negatively related to motivation to engage in spiritual practice (r ¯  = -0.46) across studies. Directions for future research and practical implications are discussed.

Could the impact of emotional states on learning in children vary with task difficulty?

Emotions are known to influence memory, in particular retention and recall, with positive emotions enhancing performances and negative emotions showing mixed effects. Although the influence of emotions on memory is well-established, their precise impact on the learning process remains a matter of debate and investigation. We implemented two experiments with children aged 6 to 8 years to examine how different emotional states affect training with tasks of varying difficulty. In Experiment 1, children were assessed in a letter recognition task and were assigned to positive, negative, or neutral emotional training conditions. Results showed significant performance improvements across all emotional conditions, indicating that emotional states did not differentially affect this task. In Experiment 2, using a more difficult non-word dictation task, significant improvements were found only in the positive and neutral conditions but not in the negative condition, suggesting that task difficulty modulates the impact of emotional states. These findings highlight the importance of considering both emotional states and task difficulty in educational settings. Positive and neutral emotions may facilitate cognitive processes under challenging conditions, whereas negative emotions might hinder them.

Anticipatory emotions and academic performance: The role of boredom in a preservice teachers' lab experience

Affective experiences within academic contexts significantly influence educational outcomes. Despite this, the literature reveals a gap in generalising these effects to specific classroom activities, partly arising from the absence of suitable instruments to measure emotions in situational educational scenarios. Our study introduces an experience sampling method to measure sixteen discrete emotional states, deriving two scales for positive and negative activating emotions. Grounded in psychological and neuroscientific theories that integrate emotion with cognition, our research explores the interplay between prior knowledge, preservice teachers' anticipatory situational emotions, and subsequent learning in an experimental science education context. Analysing data from 269 preservice teachers from diverse backgrounds (STEM and non-STEM) at the upper-secondary level, we found that negative activating emotions are often rooted in non-STEM backgrounds and exacerbated by limited prior science knowledge. These negative emotions impact achievement and learning primarily through the mediating role of boredom. Furthermore, our results indicate that the detrimental impact of boredom on achievement is significantly influenced by prior knowledge, with a more pronounced effect on students with lower levels. Given that emotions are amenable to intervention, our findings propose that specifically addressing boredom in students with low prior knowledge could amplify the benefits of educational strategies.

Investigating the relationship between emotions and physical literacy in a quality physical education context

Affective experiences have been shown to influence attitudes and future behaviors related to physical activity, but no studies have related these experiences to physical literacy or examined affective experiences in quality physical education (QPE). The aim of this study was to describe emotions experienced in a QPE context and relate those emotions to students' physical literacy and self-esteem. A cross-sectional study of 145 4th and 5th grade students was surveyed after a single PE class on their emotional experiences (positive emotions: pride, enjoyment, and relief; negative, emotions: shame, anger, and boredom; aggregate emotional experience as the sum of positive and negative emotions) physical literacy (self-description and movement valuation) and self-esteem. In this QPE context, 73% of students reported only positive emotions, 26% mixed positive and negative emotions and 1% expressed only negative emotions. Pride and enjoyment were strongly co-occurring (89%). Among students expressing mixed emotions, 90% still yielded positive aggregate emotional experiences. Positive emotions have significant (p < 0.001), moderate to strong positive correlations with physical literacy (rho = 0.65 pride, 0.50 enjoyment) and self-esteem (rho = 0.48 pride, 0.38 enjoyment), and negative emotions have significant (p < 0.001), moderate negative correlations with physical literacy (rho = -0.47 shame, -0.30 anger, -0.32 boredom) and self-esteem (rho = -0.33 shame, -0.29 anger, -0.21 boredom). This study reveals strong positive emotional responses by students in a purported QPE context. The presence of mixed emotions with net positive aggregate experiences highlights the importance of consideration of both negative and positive emotions in movement contexts. Affective states have been proposed as key elements of physical literacy, and this study supports this through valence matched associations between both positive/negative affect with physical literacy and self-esteem.

Music communicates social emotions: Evidence from 750 music excerpts

Humans perceive a range of basic emotional connotations from music, such as joy, sadness, and fear, which can be decoded from structural characteristics of music, such as rhythm, harmony, and timbre. However, despite theory and evidence that music has multiple social functions, little research has examined whether music conveys emotions specifically associated with social status and social connection. This investigation aimed to determine whether the social emotions of dominance and affiliation are perceived in music and whether structural features of music predict social emotions, just as they predict basic emotions. Participants (N = 1513) listened to subsets of 750 music excerpts and provided ratings of energy arousal, tension arousal, valence, dominance, and affiliation. Ratings were modelled based on ten structural features of music. Dominance and affiliation were readily perceived in music and predicted by structural features including rhythm, harmony, dynamics, and timbre. In turn, energy arousal, tension arousal and valence were also predicted by musical structure. We discuss the results in view of current models of music and emotion and propose research to illuminate the significance of social emotions in music.

People are increasingly bored in our digital age

In an era where entertainment is effortlessly at our fingertips, one would assume that people are less bored than ever. Yet, reports of boredom are higher now than compared to the past. This rising trend is concerning because chronic boredom can undermine well-being, learning, and behaviour. Understanding why this is happening is crucial to prevent further negative impacts. In this Perspective, we explore one possible reason-digital media use makes people more bored. We propose that digital media increases boredom through dividing attention, elevating desired level of engagement, reducing sense of meaning, heightening opportunity costs, and serving as an ineffective boredom coping strategy.

Difficulties among Teachers' Emotional Regulation: Analysis for the Development of Student Well-Being in Chilean Schools

INTRODUCTION

Emotional regulation, a process that involves detecting and evaluating physiological signals in response to stressful events, is a crucial aspect of preparing students for school and ensuring teachers' effectiveness, stress management, and job satisfaction.

METHOD

This research, which adopted a quantitative approach, used a non-experimental comparative and cross-sectional design with a non-probabilistic sample by convenience. The study involved the participation of n = 1321 teachers (n = 125 preschool education; n = 645 primary education; n = 417 secondary education; n = 134 higher education).

RESULTS

The results revealed significant differences in the total scores of emotional regulation difficulty between teachers at the higher education level and primary and secondary school teachers, with the latter group showing higher levels of difficulty.

DISCUSSION

The findings suggest that the impact of emotional regulation difficulties affects professional performance, highlighting the importance of interventions aimed at improving teachers' self-efficacy, resilience, and emotion regulation to reduce emotional exhaustion.

CONCLUSION

From a practical point of view, our findings underline the importance of integrating emotional regulation training into pre-service teacher education and continuous teacher professional development programs. This could improve relational dynamics between students and teachers, fostering an environment conducive to teaching and learning processes.

The role of emotions in academic performance of undergraduate medical students: a narrative review

BACKGROUND

This paper is devoted to a narrative review of the literature on emotions and academic performance in medicine. The review aims to examine the role emotions play in the academic performance of undergraduate medical students.

METHODS

Eight electronic databases were used to search the literature from 2013 to 2023, including Academic Search Ultimate, British Education Index, CINAHL, Education Abstract, ERIC, Medline, APA Psych Articles and APA Psych Info. Using specific keywords and terms in the databases, 3,285,208 articles were found. After applying the predefined exclusion and inclusion criteria to include only medical students and academic performance as an outcome, 45 articles remained, and two reviewers assessed the quality of the retrieved literature; 17 articles were selected for the narrative synthesis.

RESULT

The findings indicate that depression and anxiety are the most frequently reported variables in the reviewed literature, and they have negative and positive impacts on the academic performance of medical students. The included literature also reported that a high number of medical students experienced test anxiety during their study, which affected their academic performance. Positive emotions lead to positive academic outcomes and vice versa. However, Feelings of shame did not have any effect on the academic performance of medical students.

DISCUSSION

The review suggests a significant relationship between emotions and academic performance among undergraduate medical students. While the evidence may not establish causation, it underscores the importance of considering emotional factors in understanding student performance. However, reliance on cross-sectional studies and self-reported data may introduce recall bias. Future research should concentrate on developing anxiety reduction strategies and enhancing mental well-being to improve academic performance.

Linking teacher support to achievement emotion profile: the mediating role of basic psychological need satisfaction

The current study used a person-centered approach to explore the co-occurrence of college students' achievement emotions. It also examined the impact of teacher support on achievement emotion profiles and the mediating effect of need satisfaction. A total of 866 college students participated in the survey. A robust three-step latent profile analysis was employed to analyze the data. Four profiles of achievement emotions were identified: moderate mixed emotions, the blends of high positive emotions, the blends of moderate positive emotions, and high mixed emotions. Higher perceived teacher support was associated with a greater likelihood of being classified into the blends of moderate positive emotion profile or the blends of high positive emotion profile. Moreover, basic psychological need satisfaction mediated the relationship between teacher support and the four emotion profiles. Our findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the role of teacher support in shaping achievement emotion profiles, helping to broaden the application of self-determination theory to explain the mechanism by which external support influences emotion profiles.

Investigating latent mean differences in achievement emotions among Chinese secondary EFL learners: A gender and grade perspective

The control-value theory (CVT) of achievement emotions posits that achievement emotions are significantly associated with the key indicators of academic outcomes, including academic motivation, engagement, and performance. Existing studies have tested the theoretical hypothesis of the CVT in a variety of cultures, disciplines, and samples. However, evidence is limited for whether there are gender and grade differences in achievement emotions, especially in the context of English as a Foreign Language (EFL). 1,460 Chinese secondary school students (male N = 671; female N = 789; seventh-graders N = 731; eighth-graders N = 729) took part in the study. Confirmatory factor analyses and multi-group analyses were conducted to explore the possible gender and grade differences in EFL-related achievement emotions. Results indicated that there are gender or grade differences in EFL-related enjoyment, anxiety, and boredom, while hope and pride did not. Both limitations and implications are discussed.

Adapting to new challenges in medical education: a three-step digitization approach for blended learning

This research work focuses on evaluating the development of our three-step digitization approach, designed to transform traditional lectures into engaging digital learning experiences. Aimed at offering an easy-to-use solution for educators, this approach addresses the pressing challenges of modern educational environments by enhancing accessibility, engagement, and effectiveness of learning through digital means.Quantitative analysis demonstrated a notable increase in knowledge gain for students engaged with the digital format (t(230) = -2.795, p = 0.006) over traditional methods. Additionally, it was observed that the online setting significantly improved concentration levels (t(230) = -5.801, p < .001) and reduced distractions (t(230) = 2.848, p = 0.005). Emotional assessments, based on the Achievement Emotions Questionnaire (AEQ), indicated an elevation in enjoyment (t(230) = -4.717, p < .001) and a reduction in anxiety (t(230) = 9.446, p < .001) within the digital learning environment. A substantial preference for the digital course format was expressed by 61.0% of participants, with 71.4% acknowledging its superior efficiency compared to 14.3% for traditional lectures.Qualitative feedback underscored the digital format's flexibility, comprehensive learning experience, and immediate feedback as key benefits. Nevertheless, nuances such as a preferred understanding in face-to-face interactions and the absence of a social component in digital settings were noted.To conclude, the findings from this study illuminate the significant advantages of the three-step digitization approach in meeting contemporary educational challenges. By facilitating an enhanced knowledge acquisition and fostering a supportive emotional climate, this approach signifies a promising direction for the future of medical education and beyond, fusing the convenience of digital solutions with the depth and engagement of traditional learning methodologies.

The relationship between university students' goal orientation and academic achievement. The mediating role of motivational components and the moderating role of achievement emotions

The present study aims to expand the understanding of the role played by achievement emotions in the learning process and academic achievement of university students. We investigated how achievement emotions moderate the direct and indirect associations between mastery and performance goal orientation and academic achievement. Also, we used as mediators the motivational components from Pintrich and De Groot's theoretical framework of motivation and learning strategies. 274 Romanian university students (Mage = 20.23, 84.7% women) participated in the study. Moderated mediation analyses indicated that self-efficacy was the only significant mediator, and this relationship was moderated by hope, pride and hopelessness. In addition, the links between mastery and performance approach goals and motivational components are stronger when the positive emotions are higher and the negative ones are lower. Mastery avoidance goals were linked with high scores of motivational components at higher levels of negative and lower levels of positive achievement emotions, whereas the association of avoidance goals with motivational components was moderated by two positive emotions (pride and enjoyment). The patterns derived from the moderating role of achievement emotions in the relationships between goal orientation, motivational components and academic achievement, alongside several inconsistent results and implications in theory and education, are discussed.

Nursing students experienced academic emotions during education - a longitudinal descriptive study from a nursing bachelor's program in Sweden

AIM

To explore nursing students' academic emotions during ongoing learning activities focusing on perceived challenge and competence.

BACKGROUND

Emotions plays an important part in learning. Positive emotions can be beneficial while negative emotions can be detrimental to educational outcomes. Optimal experiences are situations when learners simultaneously experience sufficient challenge and competence. Since various learning activities are performed in different learning environments during the nursing program, it is of interest to investigate students' ongoing emotions in the occurring contexts.

DESIGN

A longitudinal descriptive study.

METHODS

By using the Contextual Activity Sampling System, data was collected every third week on a three-year nursing program. From August 2015 to January 2020, a total of 2, 947 questionnaires were answered by 158 students. Experiences of positive and negative academic emotions were calculated for the entire program. Optimal experience was calculated for courses where high discrepancy between positive and negative experiences were identified.

RESULTS

Students self-reported academic emotions varied over time and in relation to learning activities. High ratings of negative emotions were reported during clinical practice in all semesters except the final. Students' positive academic emotions and optimal experience in clinical practice increased after having deepened their academic knowledge.

CONCLUSION

Nursing students had an increased positive experience when they themselves practice a learning activity and it appeared that they benefit from academic preparation prior to entering internship. Nursing students need an academic competence to develop their skills during training in the clinical reality. Increased collaboration between academia and clinic would be beneficial for students' clinical development.

Achievement Emotions of Medical Students: Do They Predict Self-regulated Learning and Burnout in an Online Learning Environment?

BACKGROUND

Achievement emotions have been proven as important indicators of students' academic performance in traditional classrooms and beyond. In the online learning contexts, previous studies have indicated that achievement emotions would affect students' adoption of self-regulated learning strategies and further predict their learning outcomes. However, the pathway regarding how different positive and negative achievement emotions might affect students' burnout through self-regulated learning among medical students in online learning environments remains unclear. In this study, the aim is to investigate how achievement emotions and self-regulated learning predict burnout among medical students in online education.

METHODS

This study involved 282 medical students who had attended online courses due to the sudden shift of learning mode caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to examine the hypothesized factor structure, and structural equation modelling was conducted to test the hypothesized relationships among factors.

RESULTS

The results of structural equation modelling revealed that medical students' self-efficacy positively predicted their enjoyment (β = .57) and online self-regulated learning (β = .54). Learning-related boredom inhibited students' adoption of online self-regulated learning strategies (β = -.24), and it was positively associated with their burnout (β = .54). Learning-related anxiety was a positive predictor of online self-regulated learning (β = .38).

DISCUSSIONS

The results of this study suggest that achievement emotions experienced by medical students had a significant impact on their online self-regulated learning and burnout. Specifically, the experience of learning-related boredom was detrimental to the adoption of self-regulated learning strategies and increased the likelihood of burnout. However, learning-related anxiety, despite being a negative achievement emotion, was positively associated with students' online self-regulated learning. These findings have important implications for online teaching and learning, particularly in the post-pandemic era.

Determinants of academic achievement among higher education student found in low resource setting, A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Academic success is a measure of students' ability to attain their educational objectives, often assessed through regular evaluations or examinations. To establish effective policies and programs that align with academic accomplishments, conducting comprehensive data analysis is pivotal. Hence, this systematic review aimed to synthesize the factors impeding the academic achievements of Ethiopian students in higher education.

METHODS

A comprehensive review was conducted on studies involving Ethiopian university students from 2013 to 2022. The review encompassed 24 papers that were gathered from different databases like PubMed, Google Scholar, African Journals Online, Scopus, and Web of Science.

RESULTS

The findings of this research revealed that inadequate classroom environments, experiencing dysmenorrhea, and engaging in excessive social media usage were all linked to a decline in academic performance. Conversely, adopting healthy sleep habits, achieving high scores in entrance exams, and avoiding recent substance abuse were all factors positively influencing academic success. In addition, there was a positive correlation between academic excellence and being a health science college student and age range of 20 to 24 years old.

CONCLUSION

To enhance academic performance, it is crucial to address the negative factors identified, such as inadequate classroom environments, dysmenorrhea, and excessive social media usage, while promoting positive factors like healthy sleep habits, high scores in exams, and avoiding substance abuse. Additionally, being a health science college student and belonging to the age range of 20 to 24 were found to be associated with academic excellence.

The association between online class-related enjoyment and academic achievement of college students: a multi-chain mediating model

BACKGROUND

Based on the control-value theory of achievement emotion and self-determination motivation theory, this study attempted to examine the multi-chain mediating relationships among online class-related enjoyment, school motivation, learning engagement and academic achievement.

METHODS

This is an empirical study based on cross-sectional data. Online class-related enjoyment is the independent variable, academic achievement is the dependent variable, and school motivation and learning engagement are the mediating variables. Sample data were collected from 1294 Chinese college students, and SPSS macro program PROCESS 3.3 was used for data analysis.

RESULTS

The present study confirmed that students' online class-related enjoyment has a significant positive correlation with academic achievement. And there is a positive correlation between college students' school motivation with learning engagement and college students' learning engagement with academic achievement. In addition, online class-related enjoyment affects academic achievement through the chain mediating effect of school motivation and learning engagement.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study indicated that online class-related enjoyment has a significant impact on academic achievement. Both of these factors should be considered when determining the optimal multi-chain mediating model for Online Class-related Enjoyment and Academic Achievement of college students.

"Have to do" or "willing to do": Examining the relationship between self-control and academic emotions using experience sampling method

The purpose of this study was to examine the antecedents of academic emotions among university students through real-time and multilevel analyses. We explored the link between state self-control and academic emotions, the influence of self-determination on the relationship between them, and the moderating role of trait self-control. The data was collected over seven consecutive days during which university students (N = 155) completed smartphone questionnaires. Data was organized into hierarchical two-level structures, where situations (Level 1) nested within individuals (Level 2). The results showed that positive emotions were negatively predicted by state self-control while negative emotions were positively predicted by state self-control. Moreover, state self-control under low self-determination was a significant negative predictor of positive emotions, whereas high self-determination had no predictive effect on positive emotions. The relationship between self-determination and negative emotions was further moderated by trait self-control. The limitations of this study and future research directions are also discussed.

Anxiety, academic achievement, and academic self-concept: Meta-analytic syntheses of their relations across developmental periods

This systematic review examined how anxiety symptoms and anxiety disorders relate to academic achievement, school dropout, and academic self-concept. Studies with children or adult samples were included in seven meta-analyses (ks for number of samples ranged from 5 to 156; N's for participants ranged from 780 to 37, 203). Results revealed significant but very small effect sizes for the relations between anxiety and overall academic achievement (r = -.06), language achievement (r = -.07), and math achievement (r = -.09), and a nonsignificant effect size for science achievement (r = -.01). Participants with greater anxiety were also significantly more likely to not complete high school (r = .11). They also had a poorer overall academic self-concept (r = -.25) and mathematics self-concept (r = -.30). Few methodological moderators (e.g., study design, age) were significant. Results show that anxiety does not strongly hinder academic achievement, but it is an important correlate of dropout and academic self-concept, which in turn could contribute to poorer life outcomes. Interventions and preventive programs need to consider ways to ameliorate the relations of anxiety with academic outcomes, especially school continuation and academic self-concept. Future studies should identify risk factors that may amplify these relations.

Toward improving student motivation and performance in introductory programming learning by Scratch: The role of achievement emotions

This study investigated the differences in programming novices' intrinsic motivation and performance within a Scratch-based programming learning environment using a pretest-posttest intervention design. Specifically, this study aimed to examine what and how achievement emotions were aroused to impact learners' academic success during Scratch implementation processes by employing regression analyses. One hundred and seventy-two undergraduates (Mage = 20.44, SDage = 1.09, 55.8% female) were voluntarily recruited to participate in a Scratch-based instruction workshop during a 6-week period. The workshop was structured with regard to preparation, Scratch-based programming learning and projects, and assessment activities and questionnaire implemented both before the instructional period and after the workshop. The results suggested that the Scratch-based intervention significantly increased students' overall motivation and examination performance. Concerning achievement emotions, the outcome emotion of hopelessness first negatively predicted students' motivation and performance. Anxiety then replaced hopelessness as a negative predictor, while enjoyment was the strongest predictor of motives and performance. Taking eight emotions together, the arousal of activity and outcome emotions within visual programming environments facilitated students' emotion dynamics that impacted motivation and performance. The discussion and contributions concerning the mechanism behind the effectiveness of visualization and the emotion-performance relationship are presented herein.

A scoping review of emotions and related constructs in simulation-based education research articles

BACKGROUND

While acknowledgement of emotions' importance in simulation-based education is emerging, there are concerns regarding how education researchers understand the concept of emotions for them to deliberately incorporate emotionally charged scenarios into simulation-based education. This concern is highlighted especially in the context of medical education often lacking strong theoretical integration. To map out how current simulation-based education literature conceptualises emotion, we conducted a scoping review on how emotions and closely related constructs (e.g. stress, and emotional intelligence) are conceptualised in simulation-based education articles that feature medical students, residents, and fellows.

METHODS

The scoping review was based on articles published in the last decade identified through database searches (EMBASE and Medline) and hand-searched articles. Data extraction included the constructs featured in the articles, their definitions, instruments used, and the types of emotions captured. Only empirical articles were included (e.g. no review or opinion articles). Data were charted via descriptive analyses.

RESULTS

A total of 141 articles were reviewed. Stress was featured in 88 of the articles, while emotions and emotional intelligence were highlighted in 45 and 34 articles respectively. Conceptualisations of emotions lacked integration of theory. Measurements of emotions mostly relied on self-reports while stress was often measured via physiological and self-report measurements. Negative emotions such as anxiety were sometimes seen as interchangeable with the term stress. No inferences were made about specific emotions of participants from their emotional intelligence.

CONCLUSIONS

Our scoping review illustrates that learners in simulation-based education are most often anxious and fearful. However, this is partially due to medical education prioritising measuring negative emotions. Further theoretical integration when examining emotions and stress may help broaden the scope towards other kinds of emotions and better conceptualisations of their impact. We call for simulation education researchers to reflect on how they understand emotions, and whether their understanding may neglect any specific aspect of affective experiences their simulation participants may have.

Rethinking Learning Experience: How Generally Perceived Life Stress Influences Students' Course Perceptions in Different Learning Environments

Previous research work has already demonstrated that both the form of teaching as well as different teaching methods directly influence students' learning experience along with their psychobiological responses at the endocrine and autonomic level. Aiming to gain deeper insights into the constitution of the learning experience, this study examined the influence of external factors such as generally perceived life stress and self-efficacy on the immediate learning experience in different learning environments. Therefore, a randomized experimental field study was conducted in which both psychological constructs and physiological data (heart rate variability) were collected from healthy first-year medical students (n = 101) during the COVID-19 pandemic. In an effort to determine the consistency of the effects across various teaching formats, the same content of a practical histology course was carried out in a face-to-face setting as well as in passive and active online teaching. While self-efficacy was a strong predictor for positive course perceptions in all learning conditions (Pearson's r = 0.41-0.58), generally perceived worries correlated with higher anxiety during passive online learning and face-to-face learning (Pearson's r = 0.21-0.44), a finding supported by the negative correlation between the level of perceived life demands and enjoyment during the learning unit (Pearson's r = -0.40--0.43). Here, we additionally report initial evidence pointing towards the role of reduced general life stress as a resilience factor for the expression of physiological stress parameters in an academic context (small-sized effect; Pearson's r = 0.18). The data gathered in this study illustrate the relevance of emerging emotional manifestations-either aversive; negative effect or positive; protective effect-for the immediate learning process and thus establish a connection between medical education and the importance of mental health and wellbeing-especially discussed against the background of current social and political challenges in increasingly complex societal structures.

Theories of Motivation in Education: an Integrative Framework

Several major theories have been established in research on motivation in education to describe, explain, and predict the direction, initiation, intensity, and persistence of learning behaviors. The most commonly cited theories of academic motivation include expectancy-value theory, social cognitive theory, self-determination theory, interest theory, achievement goal theory, and attribution theory. To gain a deeper understanding of the similarities and differences among these prominent theories, we present an integrative framework based on an action model (Heckhausen & Heckhausen, 2018). The basic model is deliberately parsimonious, consisting of six stages of action: the situation, the self, the goal, the action, the outcome, and the consequences. Motivational constructs from each major theory are related to these determinants in the course of action, mainly revealing differences and to a lesser extent commonalities. In the integrative model, learning outcomes represent a typical indicator of goal-directed behavior. Associated recent meta-analyses demonstrate the empirical relationship between the motivational constructs of the six central theories and academic achievement. They provide evidence for the explanatory value of each theory for students’ learning.

Math self-efficacy or anxiety? The role of emotional and motivational contribution in math performance

Various studies have highlighted the important influence of math ability in a numerate society. In this study, we investigated the influence of emotional (math anxiety and math enjoyment) and cognitive-motivational (math self-efficacy) factors on math performance. Participants were 145 fifth-grade students (84 boys and 61 girls). The results showed that math performance was negatively correlated with math anxiety and positively correlated with math enjoyment and math self-efficacy. Moreover, math anxiety was negatively associated with enjoyment in math and math self-efficacy, whereas math enjoyment was positively correlated with math self-efficacy. Hierarchical regression analysis showed a significant influence of math anxiety and math self-efficacy on math performance in fifth-grade students. Results are discussed in terms of a new perspective in emotional and motivational factors to train in school contexts.

Emotions and motivation in mathematics education: Where we are today and where we need to go

Emotions and motivation are important for learning and achievement in mathematics. In this paper, we present an overview of research on students' emotions and motivation in mathematics. First, we briefly review how early research has developed into the current state-of-the-art and outline the following key characteristics of emotions and motivation: objects, valence, temporal stability (vs. variability), and situational specificity (vs. generality). Second, we summarize major theories in the field (the control-value theory of achievement emotions, expectancy-value theory of achievement-related motivation, self-determination theory of human motivation, and social-cognitive theory of self-efficacy). Third, we present an overview of instructional characteristics that have been shown to foster emotions and motivation. Fourth, we provide an overview of the contributions to the special issue on "Emotions and Motivation in Mathematics Education and Educational Psychology." Finally, we suggest directions for future research in the field with respect to advancing theory, improving measurement, and considering diversity and inclusion.

The happy learner: Effects of academic boredom, burnout, and engagement

This study aimed to investigate the impact of demographic and contextual variables on boredom in English and mathematics, and to test structural models of boredom, learner burnout, learner engagement, and life satisfaction. Using a cross-sectional survey design and employing a convenience sampling technique, 544 secondary school learners in the Sedibeng District, Gauteng, South Africa, took part in the study. The participants completed the Achievement Emotions Questionnaire - English, the Achievement Emotions Questionnaire - Mathematics, the Schoolwork Engagement Inventory, the School Burnout Inventory, and the Satisfaction with Life Scale. Latent variable modeling was used to test measurement and structural models of boredom, burnout, engagement, and life satisfaction. The indirect effects of boredom on life satisfaction were also computed. The results showed that Afrikaans as the home language, the final mark for English in the previous examination, caregivers that cannot help with English homework, and disliking the English teacher predicted boredom in English. Afrikaans as the home language, marks for mathematics in the previous examination, not having the ability to focus on schoolwork at home, and disliking the mathematics teacher predicted boredom in mathematics. Boredom in mathematics and English resulted in an increase in learner burnout and a decrease in learner engagement. Furthermore, boredom in mathematics and English indirectly affected life satisfaction via learner burnout and engagement.

Nursing students' achievement emotions in association with clinical practicums and alternative learning

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to identify and compare nursing students' achievement emotions associated with clinical practicums and alternative learning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

METHODS

This cross-sectional, descriptive study enrolled 236 nursing students. Participants completed a web-based, self-administered survey regarding achievement emotions. Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to calculate mean differences in achievement emotions associated with clinical practicums and alternative learning.

RESULTS

Nursing students who undertook e-learning reported higher negative achievement emotions than those who experienced other alternative learning modalities. Higher achievement emotions were associated with clinical practicums than with alternative learning. The most frequently reported negative emotions were anxiety associated with clinical practicums and boredom with alternative learning.

CONCLUSIONS

Nurse educators should design and implement supportive clinical learning experiences to engender productive achievement emotions. Implications for an international audience: Nurse educators should play roles in providing well-designed and supportive clinical learning environments to help nursing students regulate achievement emotions.

Detection and analysis of graduate students' academic emotions in the online academic forum based on text mining with a deep learning approach

Purpose

The possibility of mental illness caused by the academic emotions and academic pressure of graduate students has received widespread attention. Discovering hidden academic emotions by mining graduate students' speeches in social networks has strong practical significance for the mental state discovery of graduate students.

Design/methodology/approach

Through data collected from online academic forum, a text based BiGRU-Attention model was conducted to achieve academic emotion recognition and classification, and a keyword statistics and topic analysis was performed for topic discussion among graduate posts.

Findings

Female graduate students post more than male students, and graduates majoring in chemistry post the most. Using the BiGRU-Attention model to identify and classify academic emotions has a performance with precision, recall and F1 score of more than 95%, the category of PA (Positive Activating) has the best classification performance. Through the analysis of post topics and keywords, the academic emotions of graduates mainly come from academic pressure, interpersonal relationships and career related.

Originality

A BiGRU-Attention model based on deep learning method is proposed to combine classical academic emotion classification and categories to achieve a text academic emotion recognition method based on user generated content.

Emptiness in the study of emotions in the teaching-learning process of reading-writing during the COVID-19 pandemic

The teaching-learning process of reading and writing has great relevance in the psycho-emotional and socio-psychological development of school-age children. This is an exercise in which they develop imagination, attention and memory capacity and through this process the management of emotions and sensitivity and capacity of apprehension of reality. The crisis derived from the COVID-19 pandemic transformed reality in an unprecedented way in the recent history of humanity and the educational context was shaken by all these changes. With confinement, the teaching-learning process of reading and writing, which is designed to take place in person, had to be developed in a hybrid or online way, which was a major challenge for teachers and families and, of course, also for children who were in the process of learning. One of the aspects that was blurred in this context was the role of the teacher, which in this case is one of the most important elements, to achieve adequate learning of reading and writing. On one hand, the teacher is in charge of helping to manage the emotions derived from the learning process itself and, on the other hand, he is a key figure so that this is not only technical learning but also contributes to the child's socio-emotional development. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of the socio-psychological changes that have occurred in the educational context since the COVID-19 pandemic on the emotions linked to the teaching process, learning of reading and writing through a systematic review of the studies carried out on the subject, in order to provide recommendations for face-to-face learning in the post-COVID-19 era. A systematic review strategy was devised and the literature search was conducted. The search was conducted using ERIC, Dialnet, Scopus, WoS, EBSCO, and Google Scholar databases. This systematic review took place during the month of May 2022. The results show that given the scarce presence of empirical studies on the subject, the objective has only been partially met. However, a systematic review of the studies carried out on the subject. For the identification of recommendations in the development of face-to-face learning in the post-covid era, it has been possible to identify some ideas of interest for future curricular designs in primary school students who are immersed in learning to read and write.

A machine learning prediction of academic performance of secondary school students using radial basis function neural network

BACKGROUND

Predictive models for academic performance forecasting have been a useful tool in the improvement of the administrative, counseling and instructional personnel of academic institutions.

AIM

The aim of this work is to develop a Radial Basis Function Neural Network for prediction of students' performance using their past academic records as well as their cognitive and psychomotor abilities.

METHODS

We obtained data from a secondary school repository containing academic, cognitive and psychomotor scores of the students. The preprocessed dataset was used to train the RBFNN model. The impact of Principal Component Analysis on the model performance was also measured.

RESULTS

The results gave a sensitivity (pass prediction) of 93.49%, specificity (failure prediction) of 75%, overall accuracy of 86.59% and an AUC score (aggregate measure of performance across the possible classification thresholds) of 94%.

CONCLUSION

We established in this study that psychomotor and cognitive abilities also predict students' performance. This study helps students, parents and teachers to get a projection of academic success even before sitting for the examination.

Measuring emotions in mathematics: the Achievement Emotions Questionnaire-Mathematics (AEQ-M)

Understanding the structure, antecedents, and outcomes of students' emotions has become a topic of major interest in research on mathematics education. Much of this work is based on the Achievement Emotions Questionnaire-Mathematics (AEQ-M), a self-report instrument assessing students' mathematics-related emotions. The AEQ-M measures seven emotions (enjoyment, pride, anger, anxiety, shame, hopelessness, boredom) across class, learning, and test contexts (internal structure). Based on control-value theory, it is assumed that these emotions are evoked by control and value appraisals, and that they influence students' motivation, learning strategies, and performance (external relations). Despite the popularity and frequent use of the AEQ-M, the research leading to its development has never been published, creating uncertainty about the validity of the proposed internal structure and external relations. We close this gap in Study 1 (N = 781 students, Grades 5-10, mean age 14.1 years, 53.5% female) by demonstrating that emotions are organized across contexts and linked to their proposed antecedents and outcomes. Study 2 (N = 699 students, Grade 7 and 9, mean age 14.0 years, 56.9% female) addresses another deficit in research on the AEQ-M, the lack of evidence regarding the assumption that emotions represent sets of interrelated affective, cognitive, motivational, and physiological/expressive components. We close this gap by evaluating extended AEQ-M scales, systematically assessing these components for five core mathematics emotions (enjoyment, anger, anxiety, hopelessness, boredom). Our work provides solid grounds for future research using the AEQ-M to assess emotions and their components in the domain of mathematics.

Behaviour Patterns between Academic Motivation, Burnout and Academic Performance in Primary School Students

BACKGROUND

The final years of primary school (early adolescence) are regarded as key for the academic and personal development of students. This study aims to analyze the relationship between academic motivation, academic burnout, and academic performance, differentiating between adaptive and non-adaptive patterns according to the results of the three constructs studied.

METHODS

The sample comprised 398 students, both male (N = 224; 56.28%) and female (N = 174; 43.71%) with ages ranging from 11 to 13 years (M = 11.49; DT = 0.52). The instruments used were the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Student Survey (MBI-SS) and the Academic Motivation Scale (AMS), as well as academic marks as a measure of performance.

RESULTS

The results revealed significant correlations between the three constructs under study, the variables that can be used to predict academic performance, and both adaptive and non-adaptive behavior patterns.

CONCLUSIONS

The importance of motivation, burnout, and academic performance in primary education is manifested, whose interrelation can give rise to adaptive behaviors based on high school motivation away from academic burnout that leads to a higher academic performance in students.

The exploration of a ‘model’ for understanding the contribution of emotion regulation to students learning. The role of academic emotions and sense of coherence

The present study is exploring a pathway connecting emotion regulation with academic progress. Specifically, the pattern through which emotion regulation is implicated in learning and academic progress through academic emotions and sense of coherence. This cross-sectional study involves of 406 undergraduate social science students recruited from a university in western Greece. Participants anonymously and voluntarily completed a number of self-report measures. The Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, the Sense of Coherence Scale, the Student Experience of Emotions Inventory and the Approaches to Learning and Studying Inventory, were used to measure emotion regulation, sense of coherence, academic emotional experiences and approaches to learning, respectively. Α four-stage model was tested with structural equation modelling techniques. In particular, the model examined associations between emotion regulation, sense of coherence, academic emotions, approaches to learning and academic progress. The analysis revealed pathways through which these associations appear to be maintained and driven by emotion regulation. Emotion regulation is associated with students’ academic emotions that in turn are linked with approaches to learning and academic progress. Both positive and negative emotions appear to play a role in enabling an adaptive approach to learning. Moreover, sense of coherence may serve as an important meta-cognitive factor enabling students to approach the learning process more effectively. The findings are discussed in the light of the recent literature.

Exploring the effects of achievement emotions on online learning outcomes: A systematic review

Recently, achievement emotions have attracted much scholarly attention since these emotions could play a pivotal role in online learning outcomes. Despite the importance of achievement emotions in online education, very few studies have been committed to a systematic review of their effects on online learning outcomes. This study aimed to systematically review studies examining the effects of achievement emotions on online learning outcomes in terms of motivation, performance, satisfaction, engagement, and achievement. According to the selection process of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) principles, a total of 23 publications were included in this review. It was concluded that positive achievement emotions, such as enjoyment, pride, and relaxation, could generally exert a positive effect on online learning motivation, performance, engagement, satisfaction, and achievement. It should be noted that excessive positive emotions might be detrimental to online learning outcomes. On the other hand, it has been difficult to determine the effects of negative achievement emotions on online learning outcomes because of disagreement on the effects of negative achievement emotions. In order to improve online learners' learning outcomes, instructors should implement interventions that help online learners control and regulate their achievement emotions. Teaching interventions, technological interventions, and treatment interventions could benefit online learners emotionally and academically. Future studies could examine the moderating roles of contextual factors and individual variables in the effects of achievement emotions on online learning outcomes.

Emotionales Erleben von Schüler*innen in Jahrgangsstufe 4 unter dem Einfluss der Covid-19-Pandemie im Schuljahr 2019/2020

Bisherige empirische Befunde belegen, dass Lern- und Leistungsemotionen in Wechselwirkung mit Schulleistungen stehen und von situativen und individuellen Faktoren beeinflusst werden. In Jahrgangsstufe 4 ist dabei vor allem der nahende Übertritt in eine weiterführende Schule mit den damit verbundenen schuljahresspezifischen Ereignissen, beispielsweise der Zwischeninformation oder dem Übertrittszeugnis, von Bedeutung – im Schuljahr 2019/2020 kam der Covid-19-bedingte Lockdown mit dem damit verbundenen Distanzlernen hinzu. Im Beitrag wird der Frage nachgegangen, wie sich das emotionale Erleben vom Ende der 3. bis zum Ende der 4. Jahrgangsstufe in Abhängigkeit schuljahresspezifischer sowie individueller Faktoren entwickelt. Dazu wurden in einer längsschnittlichen Fragebogenstudie 225 Schüler*innen in Bayern zu ihren fachbezogenen Emotionen sowie bzgl. des bevorstehenden Übertritts befragt. Es zeigt sich, dass die Schüler*innen insgesamt eher günstige Emotionen erleben. Das Distanzlernen geht mit signifikanten Veränderungen im emotionalen Erleben einher. Hinsichtlich individueller Einflussfaktoren erweisen sich insbesondere die Schulleistung, teilweise auch Geschlecht und Migrationshintergrund, als bedeutsam für das emotionale Erleben. Die Ergebnisse werden diskutiert und weitere Forschungsdesiderata aufgezeigt.

Trajectories of scholastic well-being: The effect of achievement emotions and instructional quality in the first year of secondary school (fifth grade)

Due to their connections with positive educational outcomes, the maintenance of good health and scholastic well-being are highly relevant topics. However, to date, no studies have investigated developmental changes in scholastic well-being in the light of achievement emotions and instructional quality-although these predictors offer good approaches for intervention. A sample of N = 667 (age: M = 10.16; SD = 0.46; 81.7% female) students was questioned three times over one year, from the beginning of their fifth grade into sixth grade, using reliable questionnaires. The results of multilevel linear growth curve modelling calculations show that a decrease in scholastic well-being during the fifth grade was induced by changes in the predictors (achievement emotions and instructional quality). Since the highest effects are evident regarding achievement emotions, support programs should focus on facilitating these aspects in secondary school children.

The moderating role of emotional engagement on the relation of anger regulation with later achievement in elementary school

The objective of this study was to understand if and for whom anger regulation relates to later reading and math achievement. The sample included 267 upper elementary school students from two schools (5% Asian, 10% Black, 6% Latinx, 17% Multiethnic/Other, and 62% White; 36% dual language learner; 60% female; average age = 9.7 years). Self-reported anger regulation and self- and teacher-reported emotional engagement were assessed. Then, reading and math standardized achievement were tested by the schools approximately three months later. Latent variable path analyzes suggested that withdrawal when experiencing anger (“anger withdraw”) had a significant, positive relation with later reading and math achievement outcomes, when controlling for other anger regulation strategies and demographics. Latent student- and teacher-reported emotional engagement moderated the relation of anger withdraw with later reading achievement. Discussion centers on anger regulation, moderation, and implications of anger regulation for school psychologists.

Effects of Helicopter Parenting on Tutoring Engagement and Continued Attendance at Cram Schools

Attending cram school has long been a trend in ethnic Chinese culture areas, including Taiwan. Despite the fact that school reform policies have been implemented in Taiwan, cram schools have continued to prosper. Therefore, in this educational culture, how to achieve a good educational effect is also a topic worthy of discussion. However, whether students really engage in those tutoring programs provided by cram schools has seldom been studied. To address this gap, this study explored how parents’ hovering attitude toward life and coursework influences their children’s engagement in cram schools. This study targeted those students who attend English cram schools to test the correlates between two types of helicopter parenting, tutoring engagement and continued attendance at cram schools. A total of 320 questionnaires were sent out, and 300 were returned, giving an overall response rate of 93.75%. Excluding seven incomplete or invalid questionnaires, 293 valid questionnaires were received. The results of this study show that hovering behavior awareness is negatively related to cram school engagement, whereas cram school engagement is positively related to the intention to continue attending cram school. Moreover, the results imply that parents should alleviate their helicoptering behavior to enhance their children’s engagement in cram school tutoring programs.

Laugh before You Study: Does Watching Funny Videos before Study Facilitate Learning?

Emotions exist widely in the entire process of learning and affect students' motivation as well as academic performance. In multimedia learning, academics usually focus on the impact of teachers' emotions or the emotional design of multimedia learning materials on students' emotions and learning results. Few studies have investigated how to enhance learning by regulating students' pre-learning emotions. This study focused on whether playing funny videos before learning could promote students' positive emotions to enhance their motivation, satisfaction, and learning outcomes. We randomly divided 81 elementary school students into two groups: experimental group and control group. While the experimental group watched funny video clips, the control group watched neutral video clips before starting the video learning. The experimental group had more positive pre-learning emotions than the control group. After the course, the emotion of the experimental group declined while that of the control group enhanced. However, positive pre-learning emotions still promoted students' understanding and transfer of learning materials. Moreover, no significant differences were observed between the two groups in learning motivation, satisfaction, and retention tests. Furthermore, this paper analyzed the causes of the experimental results and discussed the insights for teaching.