Self-regulation of learning and conscientiousness in Portuguese and Brazilian samples

Abstract

Teaching and training are becoming more student-oriented, thus requiring a higher degree of self-regulated learning, involving agency and cyclical adaptation to attain academic success and engagement in academic activities. Previous research has shown how students who set learning-oriented goals, have a greater ability to focus on cognitive tasks and establish a greater commitment to achievement, are more conscientious regarding their academic success. Thus, the purpose of this study was to identify how personality characteristics like goal orientation, self-control, organization and persistence, are reflected in self-regulated learning processes, considering differences in participants from two different cultures. The participants, 402 university students (218 female and 184 male; 50.7% from Brazil and 49.3% from Portugal; mean age 21.66) were asked to answer two inventories, assessing self-regulation and conscientiousness. The results revealed that conscientiousness seems to be a personality trait which is significantly correlated with self-regulated learning and with its different phases in both the Portuguese and Brazilian samples. Moreover, significant differences were found regarding self-regulated learning overall and performance/volition processes specifically in favour of the Brazilian students. However, Portuguese students revealed to be more conscientious. The results obtained in the present study are relevant for a better understanding of the personality, contextual and cultural factors in order to promote interventions that can create conditions for students to be more active and autonomous in managing their learning processes.