Which one works best? Considering the relative importance of motivational regulation strategies

Perceived peer support, motivational self-regulation and academic achievement in adolescents

BACKGROUND

According to the Self-Determination Theory, satisfaction of basic psychological needs for relatedness, competence and autonomy is a necessary basis of motivational self-regulation in students. Supportive academic contexts are expected to satisfy these basic needs.

AIMS

We aimed to explore the mediating effect of motivational self-regulation strategies in the relationships between the provisions of emotional support, guidance and reassurance of worth from peers and academic achievement in adolescents.

SAMPLE AND METHODS

A total of 463 students enrolled in compulsory secondary education were recruited for the study. The students completed self-report measures of perceived social support and motivational self-regulation strategies, and their academic grades were noted. The data obtained were examined by regression mediational analysis.

RESULTS

Overall, peer support had a significant effect on self-regulated motivation. Several motivational regulation strategies had a mediating effect on the relationship between perceived support from peers and academic achievement.

CONCLUSIONS

Considering the nature of the mediational strategies, peers seem to encourage autonomous types of regulation and address the lack of motivation in students. Thus, in the light of our findings, peer support must be considered in creating a classroom climate that is conducive to engagement and learning.

Testing self-supportive strategies to regulate autonomy and motivation

People regularly encounter situations in which they have to engage in tasks they find boring or irrelevant, in which case their autonomy-the need to act in ways that are meaningful for oneself-is impeded. When there is no motivational support available, individuals need to find ways to overcome their motivational barriers by themselves. Applying autonomy-regulation strategies may be effective for increasing autonomy and particularly the more adaptive types of motivation (i.e., intrinsic and internalized). Testing this idea, we investigated whether individuals apply self-supportive strategies to boost their feelings of autonomy and motivation in two studies via cross-sectional survey samples (overall N = 2,344). We analyzed how autonomy regulation strategies were associated with theoretically related variables via Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). In Study 1, the self-reported use of autonomy regulation strategies was strongly positively associated with intrinsic and internalized types of motivation, weakly positively correlated with introjected avoidance motivation, and not associated with external motivation. In Study 2, we introduced two dilemmas concerning motivational problems individuals face when engaging in tasks and being assigned a task, respectively. Results indicate that individuals report using general strategies of autonomy regulation to achieve fulfillment of autonomy and intrinsic motivation, next to more specific autonomy regulation strategies regarding specific dilemmas. Our results show that it would be worthwhile to investigate if stimulating individuals to use autonomy regulation strategies would positively affect their motivation (e.g., in job or study contexts), and that in doing so, it is important to consider both specific context effects on autonomy regulation as well as individual preferences for general strategies used to regulate one's autonomy.

Relationships between online self-regulation skills, satisfaction, and perceived learning among distance education learners

Distance Learning or Distance Education is one of the approaches of education to connect learners and educators or instructors with geographical barriers by using technologies. The nexus between learners' online self-regulation skills, satisfaction and perceived learning continues to be an ongoing debate in distance education for developing countries. No study has looked at the relationships between online self-regulation skills, satisfaction, and perceived learning among postgraduate distance education learners in Ghana. This study purposed to identify the connections between self-regulation skills, learner satisfaction, and learning perceptions. The survey included a total of 1142 postgraduate distance education learners. The structural linkages were investigated using structural equation modelling analysis. The fit index values obtained from the analysis were X2/df = 2.60, CFI = 0.92, TLI = 0.91, and RMSEA = 0.059, all of which were satisfactory. Learners' online self-regulation skills are thought to be a predictor of their satisfaction. Also, learners' online self-regulation skills are recognised as a predictor of their perceived learning. Learners' satisfaction with the online distance learning setting or environment is considered a strong indicator of perceived learning.

Strategies for regulating motivation and motivation to learn of High School students

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate motivational regulation strategies and motivation to learn of High School students, as well as to examine the intercorrelations between these two variables and their relationships with sociodemographic variables. The sample of the study was composed of 233 students from two public schools, who answered a sociodemographic questionnaire and two Likert scales. Data were analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistics procedures. Results revealed that students seem to use motivational regulation strategies and generally feel motivated to learn. Female students reported using significantly more strategies to stay motivated than did males. Positive and significant correlations were found within the factors of the motivational regulation strategies scale and between the two scales. It is expected that the present study stimulates further research and contributes to the design of interventions to strengthen students´ motivation to learn.

Motivational regulation strategies, academic self-concept, and cognitive learning strategies of university students: does academic self-concept play an interactive role?

The present study aimed to examine the specific relations between five motivational regulation strategies (i.e., interest enhancement, environmental control, self-consequating, performance self-talk, mastery self-talk), academic self-concept, and three cognitive learning strategies (i.e., organization, elaboration, rehearsal) of 415 university students. A total of n = 238 students were in the first year of their university program, while n = 178 students were in the mid-term of their university program. Results of correlation analysis revealed that all five motivational regulation strategies were positively related to the three cognitive learning strategies. In contrast, regression analysis showed that organization was only significantly linked to interest enhancement, self-consequating, and performance self-talk, while elaboration was only significantly linked to self-consequating, and rehearsal was only significantly linked to interest enhancement and performance self-talk. Academic self-concept proved to interact with interest enhancement in predicting elaboration. Furthermore, the measurement separability of the three constructs (i.e., motivational regulation strategies, academic self-concept, cognitive learning strategies) and measurement invariance across sample for the five motivational regulation strategies were also supported.

When to Scaffold Motivational Self-Regulation Strategies for High School Students' Science Text Comprehension

Noting the important role of motivation in science students' reading comprehension, this 14-weeks quasi-experiment investigated the optimal timing for implementation of metamotivational scaffolding for self-regulation of scientific text comprehension. The “IMPROVE” metamotivational self-regulatory model (Introducing new concepts, Metamotivation questioning, Practicing, Reviewing and reducing difficulties, Obtaining mastery, Verification, and Enrichment) was embedded at three different phases of secondary students' engagement with scientific texts and exercises (before, during, or after) to examine effects of timing on groups' science literacy and motivational regulation. Israeli 10th graders (N = 202) in eight science classrooms received the same scientific texts and reading comprehension exercises in four groups. Three treatment groups received metamotivational scaffolding before (n = 52), during (n = 50), or after text engagement (n = 54). The control group (n = 46) received standard instructional methods with no metamotivational scaffolding. Pretests and posttests assessed science literacy, domain-specific microbiology knowledge, and metamotivation regulation. Intergroup differences were non-significant at pretest but significant at posttest. The “before” group significantly outperformed all other groups. The “after” group significantly outperformed the “during” group, and the control group scored lowest. Outcomes suggested delivery of metamotivational scaffolding as a potentially important means for promoting students' science literacy and effortful perseverance with challenging science tasks, especially at the reflection-before-action stage for looking ahead and also at the reflection-on-action stage for looking back. More theoretical and practical implications of this preliminary study were discussed to meet the growing challenges in science teaching schoolwork.

Estrategias de autorregulación de la motivación de estudiantes universitarios y su relación con el ambiente de clase en asignaturas de matemáticas

El presente estudio tuvo como objetivos identificar las estrategias de autorregulación de la motivación utilizadas por estudiantes universitarios en las asignaturas de matemáticas, así como examinar las relaciones entre sus creencias motivacionales y las estrategias de autorregulación de la motivación utilizadas, y explorar la relación entre las estrategias de autorregulación de la motivación y su percepción sobre aspectos del ambiente de clase. Para esto, se utilizó una muestra de 224 estudiantes universitarios, quienes completaron dos instrumentos de autoinforme para medir sus creencias motivacionales y sus estrategias de autorregulación de la motivación. Los resultados de un ANOVA de medidas repetidas revelaron que los estudiantes utilizaron en diferente grado las estrategias de autorregulación de la motivación (F(3.607, 804.343) = 96.188, p = .000, ηp 2 = 0.301); que las creencias motivacionales de orientación a metas de desempeño y orientación al aprendizaje-valor explicaron el 30 % de la varianza de la estrategia de regulación de metas de desempeño (F(2, 221) = 48.193, p = 0.000), así como el 29 % de la varianza de la regulación de valor de la tarea (F(2, 221) = 45.343, p = 0.000); y que hay relaciones plausibles entre las estrategias de autorregulación de la motivación utilizadas por los estudiantes y los aspectos del ambiente de clase como el nivel de promoción del aprendizaje significativo, el tipo de metas que se promueven en clase y el apoyo ofrecido por el profesor. El presente estudio hace una contribución novedosa al proporcionar la perspectiva del alumno sobre el ambiente de clase y su relación con las estrategias elegidas por los estudiantes.

Regulating self-organized collaborative learning: the importance of homogeneous problem perception, immediacy and intensity of strategy use

Very often, university students deliberately form self-organized study groups, e.g. to study collaboratively for an upcoming exam. Yet, very little is known about what regulation problems such self-organized study groups encounter during their learning process and how they try to cope with these problems. Therefore, this study investigates how completely self-organized groups (i.e., non-guided groups outside the classroom that form without external impulse) regulate their collaborative learning process when faced with different kinds of regulation problems. More specifically, we tested the hypotheses that members of self-organized study groups are more satisfied with their group learning experience (a) the more homogeneous their problem perceptions are within their group, (b) the more they apply immediate (rather than non-immediate) strategies to remedy their regulation problems, and (c) the more frequently they apply regulation strategies. In a longitudinal study, N = 122 students, voluntarily studying for their exams in N = 52 groups, were asked to indicate the types of problems they experienced, the types of strategies they used to tackle those problems, and their satisfaction with their group learning experience after each of their self-organized study meetings. Hierarchical linear modeling confirmed all hypotheses. Qualitative analysis of two selected groups' self-reported situational data provided additional insights about the mechanisms that may have contributed to the results. Our study provides important directions for future research, including the recommendation to identify the processes by which groups (a) can reach homogeneity of problem perceptions and (b) coordinate the choice of appropriate strategies within the group.

Effects of Metacognitive Strategies on the Self-Regulated Learning Process: The Mediating Effects of Self-Efficacy

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of metacognitive strategies on self-regulated learning processes, focusing on the mediating effects of self-efficacy. The surveys were conducted in December 2016 (Time 1) and January 2017 (Time 2). One hundred and five undergraduates enrolled at a Japanese university participated in this survey study, consisting of two surveys conducted one month apart. The questionnaires measured the use of metacognitive strategies (i.e., planning strategy and monitoring strategy), self-efficacy, general learning behaviors (behavioral engagement and persistence), and the use of cognitive strategies (i.e., writing-repetition strategy and deep-processing strategy). First, cross-lagged structure equation modeling revealed that the use of planning strategy enhanced self-efficacy. Second, path analysis examined relationships between metacognitive strategies, general learning behaviors, and cognitive strategies. It revealed that (a) general learning behaviors were promoted by metacognitive strategies mediated by self-efficacy and (b) cognitive strategies were almost directly affected by the monitoring strategy. The current study reveals that general learning behaviors and cognitive strategies involve different processes than metacognitive strategies.

The Role of Motivational Regulation in Exam Preparation: Results From a Standardized Diary Study

Previous studies have shown that the use of motivational regulation strategies has the potential to sustain invested effort and persistence in the learning process. Combining different methods (questionnaires and standardized diaries), the present study aimed to determine the role of motivational regulation in an exam preparation period. Motivational regulation is differentiated in a quantitative (extent of strategy use) and a qualitative (planning, implementing, monitoring, and correcting strategy use) aspect. One hundred and fifteen university students reported the quantity and quality of their motivational regulation strategy use in a pretest and kept a standardized learning diary focused on motivational difficulties and invested effort over a 14-day period just before an exam in their studies. Exam performance was assessed afterward. Results revealed positive effects of both aspects of motivational regulation on invested effort in exam preparation and exam performance. Moreover, a high quality of motivational regulation was associated with reduced negative effects of motivational difficulties on invested effort during studying—implying that motivational regulation can buffer against specific motivational problems occurring in the learning process.

New Directions in Self-Regulation: The Role of Metamotivational Beliefs

Research on self-regulation has primarily focused on how people exert control over their thoughts, emotions, and behavior. Less attention has been paid to the ways in which people manage their motivational states in the service of achieving valued goals. In this article, we explore an emerging line of research that focuses on people’s beliefs about their own motivation (i.e., their metamotivational knowledge), as well as the influence these beliefs have on their selection of regulatory strategies. In particular, we review evidence showing that people are often quite sensitive to the fact that distinct motivational states (e.g., eagerness vs. vigilance) are adaptive for different kinds of tasks. We also discuss how other metamotivational beliefs are inaccurate on average (e.g., beliefs about how rewards affect intrinsic motivation). Finally, we consider the implications of metamotivation research for the field of self-regulation and discuss future directions.

Escala de avaliação das estratégias de regulação da motivação de alunos universitários: um estudo piloto

Os objetivos do estudo foram: realizar um estudo piloto para verificar a adequação da tradução de uma escala que mensura o uso de estratégias de regulação da motivação de estudantes universitários, originalmente da língua inglesa (Wolters & Benzon, 2013), para a língua portuguesa e analisar o autorrelato do uso dessas estratégias em função do sexo e área de conhecimento do curso dos estudantes. Participaram 42 estudantes de cursos de licenciaturas diversas que responderam a versão traduzida da escala e uma questão sobre a compreensão dos itens.  Resultados revelaram que a escala se mostrou adequada para uso no Brasil.