An Exploration of Writing Self-Efficacy and Writing Self-Regulatory Behaviours in Undergraduate Writing

Abstract

Students will take independent action to improve their writing when they believe those actions will have a positive effect. The data presented focuses on the self-regulatory writing behaviours of nursing students in their third year. The purpose was to explore patterns of writing self-efficacy, anxiety levels, and student grade point average (GPA) in relation to student choices with help seeking, advanced planning of writing, revision habits, and response to feedback. Low writing self-efficacy, high anxiety students sought help from more sources, reported their feedback made them feel negative about their capabilities as writers, and were less likely to report reading and applying feedback to future writing efforts. No patterns of writing self-efficacy or anxiety levels emerged with respect to student revision habits or their choice to begin their assignments in advance of the due date. GPA was also not associated with the writing self-regulatory choices assessed. As the primary writing support for students in the later years of a nursing program, educators should consider interventions that encourage help seeking, facilitate students’ understanding and integration of the feedback they receive into their assignment revisions, and normalize the negative emotions that interfere with the self-efficacy levels required to write well.