Control-value Theory Of Achievement Emotions Research Articles

Understanding Chinese second language learners’ foreign language learning boredom in online classes: its conceptual structure and sources

ABSTRACT Scholarly attention to foreign language learning boredom (FLLB) has surged in recent years. However, little is known about L2 learners’ online FLLB experience prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic. To fill this gap, the present mixed-methods study explores the conceptual structure and sources of FLLB in an online learning environment. A corpus of 348 Chinese as second language (CSL) learners participated in a questionnaire survey and 10 of them attended follow-up interviews. Exploratory factor analysis revealed a three-factor structure underlying CSL learners’ FLLB: classroom boredom, content boredom and teacher/learner boredom. Qualitative data enriched our understanding of the three-factor construct of FLLB and boredom sources in online classes. Results were discussed with reliance on the control-value theory of achievement emotions, previous findings, as well as their theoretical and practical implications for L2 teaching and learning. The newly found three-factor structure coincides with the long-lasting ‘3T’ difficulties [‘3T’ difficulties refer to three major concerns in teaching CSL. They are connected with how to implement effective teaching strategies, develop high-quality teaching materials and build qualified and capable teaching teams] in International Chinese education; therefore, it inspires CSL researchers and teachers to attach more importance to the negative emotion of FLLB in the future.

A Qualitative Study of Emotions Experienced by First-year Engineering Students during Programming Tasks

In introductory computer programming courses, students experience a range of emotions. Students often experience anxiety and frustration when they encounter difficulties in writing programs. Continued frustration can discourage students from pursuing engineering and computing careers. Although prior research has shown how emotions affect students’ motivation and learning, little is known about students’ emotions in programming courses. In this qualitative study of first-year engineering students taking an introductory programming course, we examined the emotions that these students experienced during programming tasks and the reasons for experiencing those emotions. Our study was grounded in the control-value theory of achievement emotions. Each research participant came to two laboratory sessions: a programming session and a retrospective think-aloud interview session. In the programming session, each participant worked individually on programming problems. We collected screen capture, biometrics, and survey responses. In the interview session, each participant watched a video of their actions during the programming session. After every 2 minutes of viewing, the participants reported the emotions that they had experienced during this 2-minute period. We performed a thematic analysis of the interview data. Our results indicate that the participants experienced frustration most frequently. Sometimes they experienced multiple emotions. For example, one participant felt annoyed because she had made a mistake, but she felt joy and pride when she fixed the mistake. To promote student learning, educators should take students’ emotions into account in the design of curriculum and pedagogy for introductory programming courses.

Higher education students’ achievement emotions and their antecedents in e-learning amid COVID-19 pandemic: A multi-country survey

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has had a wide range of negative consequences for higher education students. We explored the generalizability of the control-value theory of achievement emotions for e-learning, focusing on their antecedents. We involved 17019 higher education students from 13 countries, who completed an online survey during the first wave of the pandemic. A structural equation model revealed that proximal antecedents (e-learning self-efficacy, computer self-efficacy) mediated the relation between environmental antecedents (cognitive and motivational quality of the task) and positive and negative achievement emotions, with some exceptions. The model was invariant across country, area of study, and gender. The rates of achievement emotions varied according to these same factors. Beyond their theoretical relevance, these findings could be the basis for policy recommendations to support stakeholders in coping with the challenges of e-learning and the current and future sequelae of the pandemic.

Teachers' enthusiasm and humor and its' lagged relationships with students' enjoyment and boredom - A latent trait-state-approach

Following Pekrun's (2006) control-value theory of achievement emotions, we investigated carry-over effects and cross-lagged relationships between student-perceived teacher enthusiasm and humor and students' enjoyment and boredom both within and between university lectures. We used a latent state-trait approach to acknowledge the role of situational factors in this relationship. Data were collected from 559 university students (76% female, mean age 21.6 years) from seven different lecture courses. We assessed students' self-reported emotions and student-perceived teacher enthusiasm and content-related humor over a period of four lectures at three random points during each lecture course. The analyses revealed that all variables were influenced by previous measures within lectures; however, between lectures, only previous enjoyment and humor influenced the subsequent measure. When students experienced boredom, they perceived less teacher enthusiasm and humor. On the other hand, perceived teacher humor positively affected enjoyment within lectures.

Testing effects of promoting antecedents of mathematics achievement emotions: A change-change model

Based on the control-value theory of achievement emotions, the present study investigates whether an intervention setting with the aim of inter alia promoting positive emotions could change control and value appraisals of low-achieving secondary school students in mathematics over two school years (Grades 7 and 8). Further, we examine the change-change assumption that positive intraindividual changes in perceived control and value longitudinally predict intraindividual changes in enjoyment, anger, anxiety, and boredom. Latent change models of 348 students revealed no significant effect of the intervention on changes in perceived control or value. Results confirmed the change-change hypothesis of the control-value theory for control and value and enjoyment, anger, anxiety, and boredom: Intraindividual changes in these emotions were longitudinally predicted by intraindividual changes in perceived control and value. Therefore, it can be assumed that the strategy of influencing students' control and value appraisals may be an effective measure to promote positive emotions while reducing negative ones.

Control-Value Theory of Achievement Emotions and Its Relevance to School Psychology

The control-value theory (CVT) of achievement emotions is a well-established theoretical framework which delineates the predictive relationships among distal and proximal antecedents, academic emotions, and student engagement and achievement. Although most research anchored in CVT is conducted by educational psychologists, the theory is arguably applicable to the field of school psychology. In this article, we first provide a brief overview of the theory, with a specific focus on the proximal antecedents (i.e., cognitive appraisals), as well as academic emotions and performance. Given that school psychologists are often consulted with strategies regarding students’ emotional challenges exhibited in the classroom, we then discuss empirical evidence of control- and value-based interventions (e.g., attributional retraining, utility-value), both of which can be posited to address the cognitive appraisals of achievement emotions. Lastly, we discuss the implications of CVT and control- and value-based interventions to school psychologists’ work.

Motivation beliefs, emotions, leisure time physical activity, and sedentary behavior in university students: A full longitudinal model of mediation

Discrete emotions produce predictable response tendencies, yet there is limited understanding about their potential to mediate relations between motivation beliefs and leisure time physical activity (LTPA) and sedentary behavior. The current study investigates self-reported moderate LTPA, vigorous LTPA, and sedentary behavior as measured by the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire using control – value theory of achievement emotions (CVTAE) with a full longitudinal mediation design. A total of 586 young adults (Mage = 19.44, SD = 1.43) completed 1485 time-specific reports of LTPA, sedentary behavior, PA enjoyment, LTPA boredom, and control and value beliefs toward PA across three waves of data collection. Structural equation modeling was used to systematically disentangle direct and indirect relations over time. Neither enjoyment nor boredom mediated relations between participants’ control and value beliefs and moderate LTPA, vigorous LTPA, or sedentary behavior; however, boredom did negatively predict vigorous LTPA. There were reciprocal relations between control beliefs and moderate LTPA as well as value beliefs and PA enjoyment. The final model did not support relationships posited by CVTAE for LTPA or sedentary behavior. However, theoretically grounded CVTAE constructs explained substantive amounts of variance in moderate and vigorous LTPA but not sedentary behavior.

Developing and Validating an Instructional Design Model Based on Control-value Theory of Achievement Emotions

Objectives: Supporting and managing the emotions of the learning-teaching process is very important and requires designing safe learning environments in terms of cognitive experiences, psychosocial relationships, and emotional feelings. This study aimed to develop and validate of instructional design model based on Control-Value Theory (CVT) of achievement emotions to improve the psychological health and performance of learners and educators. Methods: The research method was qualitative, and we used the inductive content analysis technique. The studies related to CVT theory were searched from 2007 to 2021 in different databases, and 175 articles were selected out of them. Based on the purposive sampling method, 63 articles were chosen for further analysis. In a systematic approach, themes related to essential components of CVT were recognized and coded in the form of key sentences in a table. Then, the codes were categorized based on similarities and differences in general categories. Finally, an instructional design model based on CVT was designed. The model was sent to 20 specialists in the fields of Educational Technology and Educational Psychology content validation. Of them, 12 experts completed the questionnaire, and the results were analyzed. Results: Based on the analyses, the main components of CVT were identified. Then, by combining instructional design principles, the experts presented and approved an instructional design model based on CVT of achievement emotions with eight components: learning environment, cognitive appraisal, emotion, achievement, learning, evaluation, design, and learner. Conclusion: The instructional design model based on CVT of achievement emotions is very effective at the micro and macro levels at all academic levels and various majors such as medicine, humanities, and basic sciences. It promises a rich teaching-learning environment in terms of achievement emotions.

Co-development of math anxiety, math self-concept, and math value in adolescence: The roles of parents and math teachers

Despite the well-documented negative implications of math anxiety on math learning, a scarcity of theory-guided, long-term longitudinal research limits knowledge about how math anxiety develops over time. Guided by the Control-Value Theory of Achievement Emotions (Pekrun, 2006), the present study addresses this gap by examining (1) how math anxiety develops in tandem with the development of control and value appraisals across secondary schooling, and (2) how these three constructs co-develop in relation to characteristics of home and school contexts. We used growth mixture modeling to investigate how math anxiety, math self-concept (a frequently examined indicator of control appraisal), and math utility value (one dimension of math value) develop in parallel in a sample of 3116 adolescents, who were assessed annually across middle and high school. We identified three trajectory classes: a stable class, characterized by stably modest math anxiety, high math self-concept, and high math utility value, a linear change class, characterized by increasing math anxiety and decreasing math self-concept and utility value, and a fluctuating class, characterized by curvilinear changes in math anxiety, math self-concept, and math utility value. Parental academic support and teacher bias differentiated the stable class from the fluctuating class at the transition to middle school, and from the linear change class at the transition to high school. Our findings point to the heterogeneous contributions of control and value appraisals towards the development of math anxiety and highlight the importance of investigating multiple dimensions of the socio-ecological context at different stages of math anxiety development.

The Relationship between Cognitive Activation, Self-efficacy, Achievement Emotions and (Meta)cognitive Learning Strategies among Ugandan Biology Learners

According to the control-value theory of achievement emotions, the influence of cognitive activation teaching strategies on students’ effective use of Cognitive and Meta-Cognitive (CMC) learning strategies is mediated by control appraisals (e.g. self-efficacy) and achievement emotions (i.e. enjoyment and boredom). However, there is limited and contrasting empirical evidence to support this assertion despite claims of cross-cultural and domain consistency. The present study was aimed at examining the multiple mediational roles of self-efficacy and achievement emotions on the relationship between perceived cognitive activation during instruction and four CMC learning strategies among Ugandan biology students. Data were collected using anonymous questionnaires from 587 (50.6% females) tenth grade students with a mean age of 17 years (SD = 1.16) from 10 secondary schools in Uganda. We tested the mediation hypothesis in separate models with each CMC learning strategy. Indirect effects from cognitive activation through self-efficacy and/or enjoyment to CMC learning strategies were all significant confirming their mediational roles. There were significant (p < 0.001) direct effects from cognitive activation to: self-efficacy (β = 0.41), enjoyment (β = 0.26) and cognitive learning strategies, i.e. rehearsal (β = 0.30), organisation (β = 0.30) and elaboration (β = 0.33). Self-efficacy and enjoyment fully mediated the relationship between cognitive activation and metacognition. Except for self-efficacy, direct effects to or from boredom were not significant. Clearly, instructional strategies in biology that stimulate thought among learners are relevant for increasing effective use of any one of CMC learning strategies.

A mediation analysis of emotions based on the control-value theory

Acquiring strong math skills is essential in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education. One important element to foster strong math skills is that students enjoy learning math early on during elementary school years. The control-value theory of achievement emotions (Pekrun, 2006) has been widely used to examine how specific emotions mediate the relationship between cognitive appraisals (i.e., perceived control and value) and math achievement (e.g., Putwain et al., 2018a). However, there has not been a comprehensive study examining the mediating roles of the two commonly experienced emotions—enjoyment and boredom—on international math performance. In this study, Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 2015 data is used to evaluate how enjoyment and boredom mediate the influence of cognitive appraisals on math performance in 53 education systems. Specifically, boredom significantly mediates the paths in 25 systems (47%). In general, enjoyment negatively mediates the paths which was an unexpected finding; however, 21 out of the 53 systems (40%) yield expected positive results. Our results therefore advance our understanding regarding how enjoyment and boredom relate to math success. In particular, when the mediating effects are contradictory to our hypothesis (e.g., in Korea and Turkey), these unexpected findings may indicate a cultural difference on what emotions are important to be felt in relation to academic success.

Antecedents of science anxiety in elementary school

Based on the control-value theory of achievement emotions, the study examines elementary school students’ science performance and control-value beliefs (self-concept, intrinsic and achievement value) as antecedents of their cognitive (worry) and affective (nervousness) science anxiety. Performance in the science topic “floating and sinking” was assessed and self-reported data on control-value beliefs and worry and nervousness about science were collected from 370 students at three time points during third grade. Results from structural equation modeling support the control-value theory and show that self-concept completely mediated the negative effect of prior science performance on both anxiety components. By contrast, value beliefs did not function as mediators and only achievement value positively predicted nervousness and worry, whereas no effect of intrinsic value was observed. Results are invariant across gender and indicate stereotypical mean differences in science anxiety components that were not due to differences in the predictor variables.

Social psychological accounts of peer emotion transfer in EFL classrooms: A doubly latent multilevel analysis

Based on theories of emotion contagion and social appraisal in interpersonal affect transfer and the control-value theory of achievement emotions, the present study examined associations between students’ perceptions of peer emotions and their own self-perceived emotions in English as a foreign language (EFL) classrooms. Data were collected from 103 seventh to ninth grade classrooms ( n = 3,643) using self-report questionnaires. Doubly latent multilevel structural equation modeling showed that perceived peer enjoyment, anxiety and boredom, and students’ corresponding emotions for language learning, were positively related and that the effects of perceived peer enjoyment, anxiety and boredom on corresponding student emotions were mediated by control and value appraisals at the individual level. At the class level, however, the mediation effects were only significant for control appraisal as a mediator of effects on anxiety and value appraisal as a mediator of effects on boredom. Effects were robust across grade level, gender and previous language achievement. The discussion centers on the practical implications of peer emotion interactions for promoting foreign language development in classroom instruction.

The Effect of Teacher Autonomy Support on Leisure-Time Physical Activity via Cognitive Appraisals and Achievement Emotions: A Mediation Analysis Based on the Control-Value Theory.

Analyzing students’ emotional experience in physical education (PE) is of crucial importance as it may fill an important gap in research examining the role of PE for students’ leisure-time physical activity (PA). Based on the control-value theory of achievement emotions, the purpose of this study was to test the assumption that multi-dimensional autonomy support of the PE teacher may affect students’ leisure-time PA via their appraisals of control and value and achievement emotions experienced in PE. Variance-based structural equation modelling was used to test the proposed model in a sample of 1030 students aged between 11 and 18 years (M = 13.4, SD = 1.48) stemming from schools with the lowest educational level among secondary schools in Germany. The results indicated that in particular cognitive autonomy support positively predicted students’ self-efficacy and intrinsic value. Whereas appraisals of self-efficacy were negatively related to the experience of anxiety, intrinsic value was a major positive predictor of enjoyment. Enjoyment, in turn, was of substantial relevance for leisure-time PA. The findings offer a meaningful contribution in understanding students’ emotional experiences and remind PE teachers of their opportunity to adopt an autonomy-supportive teaching style to positively influence the emotions of their students.

Relations between perceived teacher\u2019s autonomy support, cognitive appraisals and boredom in physics learning among lower secondary school students

BackgroundBoredom during learning activities has the potential of impeding attention, motivation, learning and eventually achievement. Yet, research focusing on its possible antecedents seems to have received less attention especially within the physics domain. Based on assumptions of the Control Value Theory of Achievement Emotions (CVTAE), this study aimed at examining gender differences and structural relationships between students’ reported perceived teacher autonomy support (PTAS), cognitive appraisals (self-efficacy and task value) and learning-related boredom in physics. A sample of 375 (56% females) randomly selected 9th grade students (mean age = 15.03 years; SD = 1.02) from five secondary schools in Masaka district of Uganda took part in the study.ResultsData collected from students’ self-reports using standardised instruments revealed that higher levels of PTAS, self-efficacy, and task value were significantly associated with lower levels of boredom during physics learning. Females reported significantly greater task value for learning physics than the males. Self-efficacy (β = − .10, p < .05) and task value (β = − .09, p < .01) partially mediated the relationship between PTAS and boredom. PTAS showed significant direct negative contributions to boredom (β = − .34, p < .001).ConclusionThese findings provide support for theory and practice about the importance of promoting autonomy among students by adjusting instructional behaviours among teachers of physics. Teacher autonomy supportive behaviours influence formation of students’ beliefs about ability, subjective value and learning-related boredom in physics. Implications and suggestions for further research are also discussed in this paper.

Do emotions and prior performance facilitate the use of the learner-generated drawing strategy? Effects of enjoyment, anxiety, and intramathematical performance on the use of the drawing strategy and modelling performance

The use of self-generated drawings has been found to be a powerful strategy for problem solving. However, many students do not engage in drawing activities. In this study, we investigated the effects of the enjoyment of the drawing strategy, anxiety about the drawing strategy, and prior intramathematical performance on the use of the drawing strategy and modelling performance. We explored the role of the drawing strategy as a mediator between emotions and modelling and whether intramathematical performance moderated the effects of emotions (N = 220, mean age 14.5 years). Enjoyment and anxiety with respect to generating drawings and intramathematical performance predicted the use of the drawing strategy. Enjoyment positively affected modelling performance indirectly via the use of the drawing strategy. Anxiety negatively affected modelling performance via the use of the drawing strategy for students with lower intramathematical performance. Our findings demonstrate that experiencing activating emotions (i.e., enjoyment and anxiety) with respect to strategies and prior intramathematical performance are important for strategy use and modelling performance. Implications for the theory of self-generated drawing and the control-value theory of achievement emotions and practical implications for training and supporting the drawing strategy are discussed.

The exploration of the relationship between positive achievement emotions and academic success: testing the assumptions of the control-value theory of achievement emotions

ABSTRACT Objective: The main purpose of this study was to examine the assumptions of the control-value theory of achievement emotions in the explanation of the relationship between positive achievement emotions and academic success. Method: The study was conducted among 513 high school students (341 female) from two high schools in Zagreb, Croatia. Participants’ academic control, positive class- and learning-related achievement emotions (enjoyment, hope, pride), elaboration and rehearsal as learning strategies, and academic success were assessed in the research. Results: Results showed that academic control directly and indirectly predicted academic success. Indirect paths via class-related enjoyment and elaboration, class-related pride and elaboration, and elaboration alone were significant, while in the context of learning-related emotions only the indirect path via learning-related pride was significant. These results suggest that learning strategies represent weak mediators in the relationship between class-related emotions and academic success. However, they are not mediators in the relationship between learning-related emotions and academic success, which is not in line with the theoretical assumptions. Conclusion: The study showed some beneficial effects of positive achievement emotions for academic outcomes and therefore pointed to their importance in the academic setting.

Caring Climate, Emotions, and Engagement in High School Physical Education

Purpose: This study evaluated relationships among students’ views of the caring climate, emotions, and engagement in high school physical education (PE) classes utilizing Control-Value Theory of Achievement Emotions. Method: Structural education modeling tested the direct and mediating roles of the caring climate and emotions on engagement in high school PE students (N = 638). Results: The caring climate predicted enjoyment (β = 0.45), boredom (β = −0.44), and shame (β = −0.31), while enjoyment (β = 0.71) and shame (β = 0.12) predicted student engagement, supporting Control-Value Theory of Achievement Emotions assumptions. However, caring climate also predicted student engagement directly, aligning with study hypotheses. Discussion/Conclusion: The findings suggest that a caring climate relates to student emotions and engagement in PE and supports the value of emotions in PE. This highlights the need for training high school PE teachers to facilitate a caring climate in the interest of maximizing optimal student emotions and engagement.

University students’ negative emotions in a computer-based examination: the roles of trait test-emotion, prior test-taking methods and gender

Although the effectiveness and experiences of computer-based examinations is a widely investigated area of research, the question of whether and how computer-based assessment limits or heightens the experience of negative test emotions remains largely unexamined. Drawing from the control-value theory of achievement emotions, we investigated undergraduate students’ emotions during an authentic, course-based assessment in a computer-based testing environment, as well as predictors and outcomes associated with their emotions. We found that students (N = 74) in a computer-based testing environment reported lower levels of negative emotions than their typical negative test emotions. Females and males performed equally in the examination, yet females reported higher retrospective negative emotions. Consistently, females reported higher levels of typical test-taking anxiety in prior examinations, but they reported lower anxiety in a computer-based environment. Finally, although typical and retrospective emotions were correlated, only retrospective emotions were associated with examination performance. We discuss the importance of testing environments and time-frames in understanding how to support students’ emotions in testing with particular emphasis on implications for online assessment.

An intervention promoting understanding of achievement emotions with middle school students

This study investigated the efficacy of an evidence-based intervention aimed at enhancing middle school students’ understanding of achievement emotions and their regulation. We used the control-value theory of achievement emotions and ability conception from emotional intelligence as a theoretical framework. Participants were 62 students followed longitudinally from seventh to eighth grade, assigned to an experimental or a control condition. Pre- and post-test measures assessed knowledge on achievement emotions, strategies to regulate achievement emotions, native language-related achievement emotions, and grades. The intervention was embedded within the native language domain and included ten units. We focused on a range of ten positive and negative, activating and deactivating emotions, and associated emotion regulation strategies. Compared to the control group, students in the experimental group improved knowledge of emotional lexicon and emotion strategies; they decreased some negative native language-related emotions; and only boys increased native language-related grades. The findings supported the efficacy of the training and were discussed referring to relevant theoretical approaches.