Self-regulated Learning Strategies Research Articles

Knowing how to learn: development and validation of the strategy knowledge test for self-regulated learning (SKT-SRL) for college students

Self-regulated learning (SRL) encompasses cognitive, metacognitive, and motivational learning strategies and is highly relevant for academic achievement. Although students have mostly acquired high-level SRL strategy knowledge by the time they reach college, they often show deficiencies in their application of SRL strategies. In order to investigate the gap between SRL strategy knowledge and its application in more depth, it is necessary to develop instruments that assess conditional SRL strategy knowledge for the whole learning process with sufficient validity and reliability. Therefore, based on four distinct studies conducted in Germany, the development and validation of a new Strategy Knowledge Test for Self-Regulated Learning (SKT-SRL) for college students are described. Study 1 describes the development of the test and the results of expert ratings that speak in favour of the test’s content validity. Study 2, the pilot study, was undertaken to gain insight into the psychometric characteristics of the SKT-SRL, examine its relationship to other SRL assessment methods and academic achievement, and reach a sense of its validity. Studies 3 and 4 present the results of two validation studies for the SKT-SRL; they investigated its psychometric characteristics, convergent validity, factorial structure, test–retest reliability, and its relationship to academic achievement as well as other study-relevant factors. Overall, the results are promising and the SKT-SRL mostly showed sufficiently valid assessments. To conclude, the SKT-SRL is a useful tool for analysing conditional SRL strategy knowledge in college students and can be used for further research on the relationship between SRL strategy knowledge and strategy usage.

Students’ thoughts about dropping out: Sociodemographic factors and the role of academic help-seeking

Dropout is a problematic issue in education due to its high prevalence and impact on students and society. In fact, it can limit students’ future options, and it involves a substantial cost for public budgets in most countries. This is not an easy problem to solve, since student dropout is a complex decisional process involving such factors as personal and contextual characteristics, educational variables, and psychosocial aspects. Very few studies have examined whether sociodemographic and psycho-educational variables affect educational dropout at different academic levels. For this reason, the present study aims to provide a better understanding of the role of several variables (age, academic results, gender, sexual orientation, academic help-seeking, academic self-efficacy, and planning as a strategy to cope with academic stress) in educational dropout thoughts in a sample of 759 students resident in Spain (age: M = 22.91, 74.0% women). Regression analyses showed that dropout thoughts were significantly predicted by academic results, planning, sexual orientation, academic self-efficacy, and academic help-seeking. Agreements and discrepancies with previous research are discussed. The results of the current study can be used by educators, policy makers and institutions to develop programmes to reduce student dropout by enhancing self-regulated learning strategies.

A literature review: analyzing barriers hindering the implementation of self-regulated learning in science classrooms

Self-regulated learning is a goal-directed process in which learners are metacognitively, motivationally, and behaviorally active participants in their learning process. Although studies have shown self-regulated learning is critical for success in academic learning and beyond; many students do not use self-regulated learning strategies to drive their science learning. To better understand the circumstances surrounding this unfortunate situation, this literature review reports on 15 studies related to barriers that hinder science teachers from enacting self-regulated learning. In this review, we discuss the role of self-regulated learning, then we emphasize the theoretical frameworks, and examine the barriers. Findings from this study revealed six primary barriers: scarcity of time, disregards within the curriculum and assessments, lack of training, opposing teacher views, lack of resources, and students’ resistance toward self-regulated learning. Thus, with the support of current literature surrounding remedying these obstacles, we conclude our review by qualitatively analyzing the relationships between the barriers and suggest approaches toward overcoming them.

잠재프로파일 분석을 통한 대학 신입생의 대학생활적응 잠재집단분류와 자기조절학습 전략 영향요인 탐색

Objectives This study aimed to identify latent group types of college life adaptation among university freshmen and to analyze the factors of self-regulated learning strategies that influence each group type.
 Methods In accordance with the research objectives, latent groups for types of college life adaptation were classified among 1,265 freshmen at A University located in the metropolitan area. Factors influencing each latent group regarding self-regulated learning strategies were identified. Responses from the Self-regulated Learning Test (SLT) were analyzed using latent profile analysis and multinomial logistic regression.
 Results The analysis of freshman students' adaptation to college life revealed that they can be divided into three main groups: ‘Maladaptation’, ‘Marginal’, and ‘Adaptation’. Furthermore, among the various sub-elements of self-directed learning strategies, it was found that students with higher abilities in memory strategies, emotional regulation, and resource utilization are more likely to belong to the group that adapts well to college life. Notably, students with higher metacognitive abilities have a higher probability of belonging to the ‘Adaptation’ group, which shows the highest level of college life adaptation.
 Conclusions These findings suggest the need to consider types of college life adaptation in understanding latent group profiles and predictive factors. By addressing variables of self-regulated learning strategies that influence college life adaptation, this study provides implications for necessary interventions to assist freshmen in adapting to college life.

COGNITIVE STRATEGY USE AND SELF-REGULATION AS MEDIATORS BETWEEN PERSONALITY AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AMONG CHINESE UNDERGRADUATES IN MALAYSIA

Background and Purpose: The number of Chinese students studying abroad has increased significantly in recent years. As a result, their academic achievements are rapidly gaining attention. This study aims to look into the relationship between the big five personality traits and academic achievement in Chinese undergraduate students in Malaysia. It also aims to investigate if cognitive strategy use and self-regulation have a mediation effect on these personality traits.
 
 Methodology: The 44-item Five Inventory and Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire were used as the instrument. Respondents were picked from year 2 to year 4 at six private universities in Selangor, Malaysia. A total of 430 valid surveys were gathered using stratified random sampling. For data analysis, structural equation modelling (SEM) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used.
 
 Findings: Findings showed a significant direct effect of the big five personality traits in terms of agreeableness on academic achievement. The full structural model is valid, reliable and fits well with the data. There is a mediation effect of the cognitive strategy use in the relationship between the big five personality (except extraversion trait) and academic achievement. Additionally, self-regulation mediates conscientiousness and academic achievement, openness to experience traits and academic achievement.
 Contributions: This study developed measurement scales for the measurement model and a full structural model based on two mediators.
 
 Keywords: Self-regulated learning strategy, cognitive strategy use, self-regulation, big five personality, academic achievement.
 
 Cite as: Yina, M., & Zahari, I. (2024). Cognitive strategy use and self-regulation as mediators between personality and academic achievement among Chinese undergraduates in Malaysia. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 9(1), 245-268. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol9iss1pp245-268

Self-regulated Learning and Academic Achievement in the EFL Classroom

This study explores the role self-regulated learning (SRL) plays in academic achievement in the EFL classroom by comparing self-regulated learning strategies use and motivational beliefs among Tunisian EFL learners coming from different achievement groups. The participants (n=59) were 8th form pupils enrolled at a preparatory school in the region of Sfax. Data was collected using the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire. Data analysis included descriptive, statistical and analytical procedures. Findings revealed that there is a positive relationship between self-regulated learning and academic achievement in the EFL context. Consequently, self-regulated learning is a predictor of academic achievement. High achievers were also found to use more frequently and consistently SRL strategies. The findings of the present study are relevant to both the field of SRL and to the advancement of EFL teaching especially in the Tunisian context.

“Does my teacher believe I can improve?”: The role of EFL learners’ meta-lay theories in their growth mindset and online self-regulation

While there is growing awareness that self-regulated learning (SRL) is an essential component of 21st-century skills, this topic is in its infancy within online second language (L2) education. Complicated by the impact of racing tech, online L2 education presents both opportunities and challenges, such that developing self-regulated language learners gains immediate urgency. Despite the large body of SRL literature on traditional classroom settings, very little is known about whether and how language learners at lower educational levels self-regulate their language learning in online classes and the degree to which their language teachers' beliefs shape their online SRL strategies. This study examined middle and senior high school EFL (English as a foreign language) learners' SRL strategy use in online language classes and its relations with learners' growth language mindset and meta-lay theories about their English teachers. Based on data collected from 524 students (M = 14.54 years) in northwestern China, the present study revealed a “meta-lay theory—mindset—SRL” model pertaining to students' perceptions about their English teachers' intellectual beliefs, which further predicted students' SRL strategies in online classes with the growth mindset as a mediator in between. Additionally, the study gauged the uniqueness of younger language learners’ language mindsets and meta-lay theories and the context-specificity of SRL strategies in online language classes. Pedagogical implications and suggestions for future research were also discussed.

Factors influencing academic performance and dropout rates in higher education

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to identify and evaluate the most frequently used research methods and factors influencing academic performance, based on a pool of 95 studies, published after 2012. We considered only peer-reviewed papers containing 78 empirical and 17 meta-analytic studies. Our theoretical background lies in the different approaches of the terms ‘university dropout’ and ‘academic performance’. After the systematic analysis we ascertained the most commonly used methods are Educational Data Mining (EDM) algorithms (decision tree, logistic regression and neural networks) and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). The strength of the predictive power depends on the dataset, however Support Vector Machines, Multilayer Perceptron, Naïve Bayes algorithm were found to be the most precise in prediction. Regarding factors influencing academic performance we derived our results based on 600,000 university students. Considering the data from meta-analyses and systematic reviews, reaching up to 900 studies, we found grade point average (GPA), obtained credits (ECTS) and gender to be the most consistent and decisive predictors of academic performance. Nevertheless, GPA and ECTS (as output variables) are mediated by student factors (intrinsic motivation, self-regulated learning strategies, self-efficacy, prior education) and throughput factors (work, finances, academic engagement). We had contradictory results on age and family background.

A longitudinal study on lecture listening difficulties and self-regulated learning strategies across different proficiency levels in EMI higher education

Abstract The absence of language admission thresholds in many English medium instruction (EMI) university programmes has led to marked heterogeneity in students’ English proficiency upon entry. These students may face diverse challenges when listening to academic lectures, adopt different strategies to cope, and undergo varying trajectories in listening over time. To unpack such complexities, this study adopts a longitudinal mixed-methods design, comprising questionnaire responses from 412 freshmen and semi-structured interviews with 34 students at the beginning, halfway, and end of their first semester studying at an EMI university in China. Students were divided into high, medium, and low proficiency cohorts based on their listening placement test scores. Multilevel modelling analyses highlight that students entering with lower proficiency reported sharper reductions in listening challenges over time. Interview findings also reveal that these students engaged in more industrious self-regulated listening practice outside of the classroom than their highly proficient peers. Regardless of disparities in students’ proficiency, all students developed a higher tolerance towards ‘non-native’ teacher accents and shifted attitudes towards handling disciplinary terminology. The findings offer pedagogical implications for supporting different groups of students’ needs for successful transitions into English-medium tertiary education.

Profiling L2 students’ writing self-efficacy and its relationship with their writing strategies for self-regulated learning

The current study aimed to examine the relationship among writing self-efficacy, writing strategies for self-regulated learning (SRL), and writing achievement in L2 students by adopting latent profile analysis and path analysis. A sample of 391 L2 students from two universities in Western China was recruited to participate in the current study. They were required to respond to the Genre-Based L2 Writing Self-Efficacy Scale and the Writing Strategies for Self-Regulated Learning Questionnaire and also write a given-prompt argumentative essay. Three profiles of writing self-efficacy were identified through latent profile analyses: “Low on All Self-efficacy”, “Average on All Self-efficacy”, and “High on All Self-efficacy”. Moreover, ANOVA and Welch's Tests revealed that those identified profiles were significantly distinct in writing self-efficacy, SRL writing strategies, and writing achievement. Path analyses also demonstrated the profile differences in the predictive effects of writing self-efficacy on SRL writing strategies and the predictive effects of writing self-efficacy and SRL writing strategies on writing achievements. Methodological and pedagogical implications were discussed.

Effects of Students’ Autonomy Support on their Self-Regulated Learning Strategies: Three Field Experiments in Secondary Education

Providing students with autonomy over their learning process can support the development of their self-regulation skills. This study aimed to examine the effects of autonomy-support interventions on students’ self-regulated learning strategies. The participants were 432 students from three secondary schools in the Netherlands. In each school, a one-year field experiment was performed, in which teachers and students shared control over learning processes. At the start and end of the school year, students from both the experimental and control conditions completed a questionnaire on perceived autonomy support and self-regulation strategies used. Univariate analyses of covariance were performed to examine the effects of the interventions on perceived autonomy support and the use of self-regulated learning strategies. The intervention with the highest amount of student control showed positive effects on self-regulated learning strategies ‘task orientation’, ‘planning’, and ‘process evaluation’, although it did show a small decrease in perceived autonomy support. The other two interventions showed an increase in perceived autonomy support and a positive trend in ‘monitoring’. The field experiments suggest that different ways of supporting student autonomy can yield different effects on students’ self-regulated learning strategies. The tentative conclusion is that a focus on student control is the most effective.

Self-Regulatory Learning Strategies for Senior Secondary Agriculture Students

Self-regulation is essential to the learning process as it enhance student performance. However, there is very little research on the self-regulatory strategies employed by students. Therefore, this study sought to identify self-regulatory learning strategies used by senior secondary agriculture students. The study used a descriptive survey design, and targeted agriculture students in senior secondary schools in Eswatini. Consequently, there were ten schools sampled using cluster sampling; which produced 356 respondents. Data were collected using a questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics. Three experts from the Department of Agricultural Education and Extension at the University of Eswatini ensured the validity of the questionnaire. A pilot study using 30 students indicated that the instrument was 72% reliable. Findings revealed that the senior secondary agriculture students used all the self-regulatory learning strategies. The most commonly used strategies were self-evaluation, structuring the environment, keeping records and monitoring, and organizing and transforming. The study also revealed that teachers were equipping students with self-regulatory strategies. Therefore, the study concluded that the senior secondary agriculture students used self-regulatory learning strategies. Based on the findings, it was recommended that teacher training institutions should equip agriculture teachers with self-regulatory strategies which will enable them to assist the students.

The impact of future L2 selves and positive emotions on self-regulated writing strategies: A mixed method approach

While extensive research supported the facilitative role of motivation in general self-regulated learning (SRL) strategy use, its connection to writing-specific SRL strategy use remains underexplored. Furthermore, the exploration of the interplay between motivation and SRL strategy use in second or foreign (L2) writing was absent within the motivational-self system. Even less is known about the mechanism between motivational factors and SRL strategy use in L2 writing. This study aims to fill the gap by testing the mediating role of positive emotions (enjoyment, pride, and hope) between future L2 writing selves (ideal L2 self and ought-to L2 self) and SRL strategy use in the Chinese English as a foreign language (EFL) writing context with a mixed method design incorporating both quantitative and qualitative methods. Three hundred and sixty students enrolled in College English writing classes were recruited and they reported their responses to standardized measures. Results of structural equation modelling (SEM) showed that positive emotions partially mediated the link between ideal L2 writing selves and SRL but not between ought-to L2 writing selves and SRL. Semi-structured interviews about students’ in-depth perceptions of the three constructs complemented our quantitative results. Theoretical and pedagogical implications are also discussed.

Exploring Self-Regulated Learning Strategies and Academic Performance among Orphanage Secondary School Students

This study investigated the self-regulated learning strategies employed by secondary school students living in Panti Asuhan Bahagia Sampit. It attempted to reveal some variables influencing their self-regulated learning strategies in relation to their academic achievement. Using a qualitative research methodology and a narrative approach, the study was laid upon a social cognitive theory. Drawing from 45 children as the population of the study, six participants were selected for the study using purposive sampling. Each participant was interviewed twice, with each lasting for about 30 minutes. The findings demonstrated that those exhibiting high levels of self-regulation outperform those exhibiting low levels of self-regulation or lacking self-regulated learning. Personal, behavioral, and environmental factors all had an impact on how students underwent self-regulated learning. The study is set to offer efficient interventions to help secondary school children from orphanages succeed academically by examining those areas.

Self-regulatory learning strategies involving the use of linguistic landscape: the case of undergraduate multilingual learners

Capitalising on research into self-regulated learning strategies (SRLS), the study reported in the present paper explored the use of SRLS by multilingual learners in the context of the linguistic landscape. We designed the Linguistic Landscape (LL) SRLS Inventory, used it for data collection and validated it. Insights were provided by 100 undergraduate students of English and German and concerned searching for opportunities to learn from LL, paying attention to LL, creating mental linkages with LL, and organising LL-based learning. Statistical analyses revealed that the use of LL SRLS was affected by reading comprehension skills and varied substantially across SR stages.

Resilience and self-regulated learning as predictors of student competence gain in times of the COVID 19 pandemic – evidence from a binational sample

Emergency Remote Teaching (ERT) was introduced around the globe during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that students could continue with their studies during social distancing. Subsequent studies found considerable individual differences in the adjustment to ERT and identified resilience as a critical factor for coping with the challenges of independent studying. The growing evidence led to calls for resilience training in preparation for emergency situations. Against the backdrop of a three-phase model of self-regulated learning, this study examines self-regulated learning activities as an additional protective resource and a predictor for academic performance in ERT. Results from a survey of resilience, self-regulated learning strategies, and competence gain completed by students from universities in the US and Germany (N = 333) found self-regulated learning strategies to be more predictive of student competence gain than resilience. As a consequence, in addition to fostering resilience, institutions should also include self-regulation strategies in student training and support programs to better prepare students for academic success.

Impact of flipped classroom on EFL learners’ self- regulated learning and higher-order thinking skills during the Covid19 pandemic

The advent of innovative online tools has ushered in new possibilities for enhancing the quality of language learning. This study delved into the influence of the flipped classroom approach on augmenting the cognitive and meta-cognitive competence of EFL learners. Two distinct participant groups were enlisted for the study's sequential phases, necessitating varying sample sizes to compare the effects of the flipped classroom against traditional instructional modes on the improvement of EFL learners' self-regulated learning strategies and higher-order thinking. Homogeneous groups of language learners were essential for addressing the research inquiries, and participants were selected from two private language institutes in Arak, Iran. Multiple data sources, including a language proficiency test, the Self-Regulation Questionnaire, a flipped classroom attitude questionnaire, and the Higher-Order Thinking Skills Test, were employed to gather the necessary data. The results demonstrated a significant impact of flipped classrooms on learners' utilization of cognitive self-regulated learning strategies, indicating that the flipped classroom approach fosters students' development as self-directed learners. Concerning the influence of the flipped classroom on enhancing EFL learners' higher-order thinking skills, it was deduced that the flipped classroom significantly affected the learners' engagement in evaluating, analyzing, and creating. The implications of these findings underscore the potential of the flipped classroom approach to positively shape EFL learners' self-regulated learning and higher-order thinking skills, advocating for its incorporation into language education practices.

Investigating pedagogical agents' scaffolding of self‐regulated learning in relation to learners' subgoals

AbstractIntelligent tutoring systems (ITSs) incorporate pedagogical agents (PAs) to scaffold learners' self‐regulated learning (SRL) via prompts and feedback to promote learners' monitoring and regulation of their cognitive, affective, metacognitive and motivational processes to achieve their (sub)goals. This study examines PAs' effectiveness in scaffolding and teaching SRL during learning with MetaTutor, an ITS on the human circulatory system. Undergraduates (N = 118) were randomly assigned to a condition: Control Condition (i.e. learners could only self‐initiate SRL strategies) and Prompt and Feedback Condition (i.e. PAs prompted learners to engage in SRL). Learners' log‐file data captured when strategies were used, the initiator of the strategy (i.e. learner and PA), and the relevance of instructional content pages in relation to learner subgoals. While results showed that PAs were effective scaffolders of SRL in which they prompted learners to engage in SRL strategies more when content was relevant towards their subgoals and as time on page and task increased, there were mixed findings about the effectiveness of PAs as teachers of SRL. Findings show how production rules guiding PA prompts can improve their scaffolding and teaching of SRL across the learning task – through contextualizing SRL strategies to the instructional content and in relation to the relevance of the content to learners' subgoals.Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topic Most learners struggle to efficiently and effectively use self‐regulated learning (SRL) strategies to attain goals and subgoals. There is a need for SRL to be scaffolded for learners to manage multiple goals and subgoals while learning about complex STEM topics. Intelligent tutoring systems (ITSs) typically incorporate pedagogical agents (PAs) to prompt learners to engage in SRL strategy and provide feedback. There are mixed findings on the effectiveness of PAs in scaffolding learners' SRL. What this paper adds We consider PAs not only scaffolders but also teachers of SRL. Results showed that while PAs encouraged the use of SRL strategies when the content was relevant to subgoals, they did not discourage the use of SRL strategies when the content was not relevant. Results for this study were mixed in their support of PAs as teachers of SRL. Learners increasingly depended on PAs to prompt SRL strategies as time on task progressed. Implications for practice and/or policy PAs are effective scaffolders of SRL with more research needed to understand their role as teachers of SRL. PA scaffolding is more essential as time on task progresses. When deploying specific cognitive and metacognitive SRL strategies, the relevance of the content to learners' subgoals should be taken into account.

A structural equation model of online learning: investigating self-efficacy, informal digital learning, self-regulated learning, and course satisfaction.

English as a Foreign Language (EFL) education increasingly relies on online learning, necessitating a nuanced understanding of crucial factors impacting learning experiences. This research investigates the intricate relationships among online learning self-efficacy, online self-regulated learning, informal digital learning of English (IDLE), and online course satisfaction within the unique context of EFL learners. The study involved 563 intermediate college students from various national universities in China. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to analyze the data, providing comprehensive insights into the relationships among the identified variables. The results revealed significant insights. Both online learning self-efficacy and IDLE exhibited direct and positive influences on online course satisfaction. Furthermore, the study uncovered that online self-regulated learning acted as a partial mediator in the connection between online learning self-efficacy and IDLE with online course satisfaction. This mediation implies that learners' self-regulatory behaviors significantly affect how self-efficacy and informal digital language learning experiences impact overall satisfaction with online courses. The findings highlight the pivotal role of nurturing learners' self-efficacy beliefs, fostering IDLE, and promoting effective self-regulated learning strategies in the realm of online language learning. These initiatives are instrumental in enhancing learners' satisfaction and success in online courses. The implications of these findings for EFL instruction are substantial. By emphasizing the importance of self-efficacy, IDLE, and self-regulated learning strategies, educators can significantly contribute to creating more satisfying and successful online learning experiences for EFL students.

Towards prescriptive analytics of self‐regulated learning strategies: A reinforcement learning approach

AbstractSelf‐regulated learning (SRL) is an essential skill to achieve one's learning goals. This is particularly true for online learning environments (OLEs) where the support system is often limited compared to a traditional classroom setting. Likewise, existing research has found that learners often struggle to adapt their behaviour to the self‐regulatory demands of OLEs. Even so, existing SRL analysis tools have limited utility for real‐time or individualised support of a learner's SRL strategy during a study session. Accordingly, we explore a reinforcement learning based approach to learning optimal SRL strategies for a specific learning task. Specifically, we utilise the sequences of SRL processes acted by 44 participants, and their assessment scores for a prescribed learning task, in a purpose‐built OLE to develop a long short‐term memory (LSTM) network based reward function. This is used to train a reinforcement learning agent to find the optimal sequence of SRL processes for the learning task. Our findings indicate that the developed agents were able to effectively select SRL processes so as to maximise a prescribed learning goal as measured by predicted assessment score and predicted knowledge gains. The contributions of this work will facilitate the development of a tool which can detect sub‐optimal SRL strategy in real‐time and enable individualised SRL focused scaffolding. Practitioner notesWhat is already known about this topic Learners often fail to adequately adapt their behavior to the self‐regulatory demands of e‐Learning environments. In order to promote effective Self‐regulated learning (SRL) capabilities, researchers and educators need tools that are able to analyze and diagnose a learner's SRL strategy use. Current methods for SRL analysis are more often descriptive as opposed to prescriptive and have limited utility for real‐time analysis or support of a learner's SRL behavior. What this paper adds This paper proposes the use of Reinforcement Learning for prescriptive analytics of SRL. We train a Reinforcement Learning agent on sequences of SRL processes acted by learners in order to learn the optimal SRL strategy for a given learning task. Implications for practice and/or policy Our work will facilitate the development of a tool which can detect sub‐optimal SRL strategy in real‐time and enable individualized SRL focused scaffolding. The implications of our work can aid in course design by predicting the self‐regulatory load imposed by a given task. The ability to model SRL strategies using Reinforcement Learning can be extended to simulate or test SRL theories.