Self-regulation Strategies Research Articles

Modelling the interrelationships among self-regulated learning components, critical thinking and reading comprehension by PLS-SEM: A mixed methods study

This explanatory mixed methods study investigated the interrelationships among self-regulated learning (SRL) components, critical thinking and reading comprehension using PLS-SEM. For this purpose, a conceptual PLS-SEM model was evaluated on a sample of 183 Iranian elementary EFL learners. Then, 15 students were randomly selected to complete the follow up semi-structured interview. Three instruments including Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire, the questionnaire of Critical Thinking ability in English Reading and a reading comprehension test were used to provide data sources for PLS-SEM models. The results of the quantitative analyses of measurement and structural models indicated that among the three components of SRL, cognitive strategies and metacognitive strategies significantly and directly affected critical thinking and reading comprehension. However, motivation had significant indirect effects on the outcome variables. Meanwhile, from among the SRL components, motivation had the strongest total effects on SRL. The qualitative findings of the study approved the predictive relationships of SRL components with reading comprehension and critical thinking. Moreover, the semi-structured interviews showed that the participants' effective use of self-regulated reading strategies, reading motivation and regulatory reading instruction were the major factors affecting EFL learners' SRL in reading comprehension and critical thinking.

Understanding the dynamics of college transitions between courses: Uncertainty associated with the decision to drop out studies among first and second year students

University dropout is a phenomenon of growing interest due to its negative consequences. Various variables have been studied in order to understand why this problem occurs. Satisfaction with the degree choice, self-regulation strategies and engagement within the university are some of the variables that have been studied in order to understand why students decide to drop out university. In this sense, it is also important to consider uncertainty, which refers to the level of certainty that students have about these variables to understand the decisions to drop out. Therefore, the aim of this research is to analyse the uncertainty associated with the decision to drop out studies among first year and second-year students, based on these three variables using Multiple Criteria Decision-Making. We performed descriptive analyses and FTOPSIS method on a sample of 719 students from a university in the north of Spain. We saw a relationship between the three variables studied and the intention to persist, as well as being a first-year student. In conclusion, it is important to continue studying the variables that influence this phenomenon in greater depth. In addition, this type of analysis could help in future research to understand in greater depth the influence of other variables on dropout rates.

Training volitional control of the theory of mind network with real-time fMRI neurofeedback

Is there a way improve our ability to understand the minds of others? Towards addressing this question, here, we conducted a single-arm, proof-of-concept study to evaluate whether real-time fMRI neurofeedback (rtfMRI-NF) from the temporo-parietal junction (TPJ) leads to volitional control of the neural network subserving theory of mind (ToM; the process by which we attribute and reason about the mental states of others). As additional aims, we evaluated the strategies used to self-regulate the network and whether volitional control of the ToM network was moderated by participant characteristics and associated with improved performance on behavioral measures. Sixteen participants underwent fMRI while completing a task designed to individually-localize the TPJ, and then three separate rtfMRI-NF scans during which they completed multiple runs of a training task while receiving intermittent, activation-based feedback from the TPJ, and one run of a transfer task in which no neurofeedback was provided. Region-of-interest analyses demonstrated volitional control in most regions during the training tasks and during the transfer task, although the effects were smaller in magnitude and not observed in one of the neurofeedback targets for the transfer task. Text analysis demonstrated that volitional control was most strongly associated with thinking about prior social experiences when up-regulating the neural signal. Analysis of behavioral performance and brain-behavior associations largely did not reveal behavior changes except for a positive association between volitional control in RTPJ and changes in performance on one ToM task. Exploratory analysis suggested neurofeedback-related learning occurred, although some degree of volitional control appeared to be conferred with the initial self-regulation strategy provided to participants (i.e., without the neurofeedback signal). Critical study limitations include the lack of a control group and pre-rtfMRI transfer scan, which prevents a more direct assessment of neurofeedback-induced volitional control, and a small sample size, which may have led to an overestimate and/or unreliable estimate of study effects. Nonetheless, together, this study demonstrates the feasibility of training volitional control of a social cognitive brain network, which may have important clinical applications. Given the study's limitations, findings from this study should be replicated with more robust experimental designs.

Students’ Voices: A Qualitative Study on Contextual, Motivational, and Self-Regulatory Factors Underpinning Language Achievement

A lack of qualitative studies examining adolescent students’ voices regarding the contextual, relational, and self-regulatory factors that drive their language achievement has been observed. Therefore, the present study aimed to address this issue. Sixteen face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with secondary school students in Greece to document and analyse their perceptions of the factors that influence language achievement. The study was guided by social-cognitive theory and models of self-regulated learning. Computer-assisted thematic analysis was performed using abductive open coding followed by refinement of codes. Three overarching global themes were identified in line with theoretical expectations, namely personal factors (motivation and self-regulatory strategies), relational factors (teachers’ practices, parental achievement expectations, peer influences), and structural factors (the educational system). Afterwards, an abductive thematic network analysis was conducted to explore and theorise about potential relationships between the emergent themes in the data. It was found that parental expectations for higher performance and the teachers’ behaviours were associated with students’ language achievement. Task-related characteristics and peers influenced students’ regulation of effort in learning. The students believed that they were not objectively graded and frequent summative assessments created test anxiety. The findings are discussed in light of existing empirical evidence and in terms of educational implications.

Adolescents’ self-regulated and affective learning, teacher support and digital reading literacy: A multilevel latent profile approach

A considerable body of research has demonstrated the pivotal roles played in digital reading by self-regulated learning (SRL) and affective learning. Yet, whether teacher support facilitates SRL and affective learning has hitherto remained unclear. This cross-cultural study adopted multilevel latent profile analysis (LPA) to establish latent profiles of adolescents’ SRL and positive affect, explored how such profiles were differentially correlated to digital-reading performance, and examined how perceived teacher support predicted profile memberships, at both student and school levels. Using data collected from 34,000 students nested in 1,100 schools from three Asian and three Western educational systems by the Programme for International Student Assessment 2018, single-level LPA revealed three or four student profiles, in associations with disparate digital reading. While self-regulatory strategies were decisive in profile assignment, emotions did not vary significantly across profiles or predict performance. The least self-regulated learners often fell into a vicious circle of poor emotional well-being and low performance, but highly self-regulated and capable digital readers did not necessarily report the most positive emotions. Multilevel LPA identified two or three school profiles based on relative frequency of student profiles, in relations to different school-mean digital reading. Students’ perceived teacher support significantly predicted student-profile memberships; greater support increased likelihoods of being stronger self-regulated learners. But such support did not predict school-profile memberships. East-West cultural variations existed in all the influential patterns.

Pedagogical Perspectives of Interdisciplinary Teaching and Research: An Energy System Modelling Outlook in Relation to Energy Informatics

The purpose of this paper is to present and discuss pedagogical frameworks and approaches to developing, delivering, and evaluating a new interdisciplinary course within the domain of energy informatics at both Master’s and PhD levels. This study is needed because many papers on sustainable energy engineering education concentrate on course content but provide very little information on the pedagogical methods employed to deliver that content. The proposed new course is called “smart energy and power systems modelling” and is aimed at discussing how mathematical optimization, in the context of computer science, can contribute to more effectively managing smart energy and power systems. Different pedagogical frameworks are discussed and adapted for the specific domain of energy informatics. An ASSURE model coupled with Bloom’s taxonomy is presented for the design of the course and identification of learning objectives; self-regulated learning strategies are discussed to enhance the learning process; a novel model called GPD (Gaussian Progression of Difficulty) for lecture planning was proposed; a teaching-research nexus is discussed for the course planning and enhancement. Adopting qualitative analyses and an inductive approach, this paper offers a thorough reflection on the strengths and weaknesses of the new course, together with improvement possibilities based on fieldwork and direct experience with the students and colleagues. Opportunities and challenges of interdisciplinary teaching are presented in light of real-world experience, with a particular focus on the interaction between mathematics and computer science to study the specific application of energy and power systems.

Self-regulated Learning and Second Language Writing: Fostering Strategic Language Learners (Book Review)

Over the past 40 years, experts in the field of educational psychology have conducted extensive research on self-regulated learning (SRL) as a learning theory. The theory of SRL refers to a learner’s ability to understand and control their learning environment through goal setting, self-monitoring, self-instruction, and self-reinforcement in order to succeed in their studies (Schraw et al., 2006). Teachers who understand the application of self-regulated learning strategies may help their students gain important insight for transferring knowledge, skills, and abilities from one field to another. Furthermore, it helps the students prepare for lifelong learning and become autonomous learners. In her recent book Self-regulated Learning and Second Language Writing: Fostering Strategic Language Learners, Lin Sophie Teng explains the principles of using SRL theory in language learning, specifically through the application of SRL to students in a second language (L2) writing class. The book offers valuable knowledge for teachers to understand how to foster integrated strategies of SRL and language learning strategies in all of their students to succeed in language learning. [First paragraph]

Exploring Students’ Academic Performance, Motivational Orientation and Self-Regulated Learning Strategies towards Chemistry

Chemistry is considered one of the most difficult subjects for college students. Process Oriented Guided Inquiry Learning activities are a student-centered teaching-learning strategy used in classrooms to improve students' academic performance. This study investigates the effectiveness of POGIL activities in teaching Chemistry in the two sections of Bachelor of Industrial Technology (BIT) students enrolled in Chemistry for the first semester of 2022-2023 to determine the academic performance, motivational orientation, and self-regulated learning strategies before and after the intervention. We administered the examination on Stoichiometry and Chemical Equations and Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaires before and after the intervention. BIT 1B had the POGIL activities for Stoichiometry, while BIT 1A had the traditional lecture on the same topic. For the second topic, chemical equation, the intervention was switched. BIT 1A had the POGIL activities, while BIT 1B had the traditional lecture. The result showed that most respondents were male since Industrial Technology is a male-dominated course. A significant difference was observed between the post-test scores of the students exposed to POGIL activities and traditional lectures. A significant difference was also observed in the motivational orientation and self-regulated learning strategies after exposure to POGIL activities. Students in a POGIL class perform better than students in a traditional class. It is recommended to use a student-centered teaching strategy such as POGIL, which encourages active learning in teaching Chemistry to improve students' academic performance.

A study of employees’ utilization of microlearning platforms in organizations

PurposeThis study aims to investigate which a priori factors documented in the literature and new factors that influence employees’ self-regulated microlearning behavior and the utilization of internal microlearning platforms in organizations.Design/methodology/approachThe authors conducted a single-case study on a Swedish retail group that had developed an internally-built microlearning platform, collecting data through semistructured interviews with 13 informants.FindingsThe authors have identified eight factors that affect employees’ self-regulated microlearning processes. In addition to confirming the presence of five factors from previous research, the authors have discovered the influence of three new factors on self-regulated learning. These new factors are prioritization, other learning platforms and relevant content.Originality/valueThe study conducted a unique investigation into the factors influencing employees’ self-regulated learning strategies and their impact on the utilization of microlearning platforms. Previous research has given limited attention to this research topic and associated questions, making this study a valuable contribution.

Domain-specific self-regulated learning interventions for elementary school students

BackgroundSelf-regulated learning has been deemed an essential skill that must be explicitly learned and repeatedly practiced for young students. The need for research on teacher-led self-regulated learning interventions embedded in regular classroom instructions has escalated steadily. AimsWe aimed to investigate self-regulated learning interventions' effectiveness led by teachers applicable to three primary subjects (i.e., writing, mathematics, reading) based on Zimmerman's cyclical model of self-regulated learning. Samples214 Korean upper elementary school students participated in a series of three intervention studies (nStudy1 = 70, nStudy2 = 69, nStudy3 = 75). MethodsTrained homeroom teachers implemented the interventions—incorporating explicit instructions about domain-specific strategies in writing (Study 1), mathematics (Study 2), and reading (Study 3)—in Korean elementary school classrooms. Participants were assigned to one of the three groups: regular classroom instruction (REG), domain-specific strategy instruction (STR), and strategy instruction within the framework of eight-phase self-regulated learning instruction (STR + SRL). ResultsSynthesized results revealed that the STR + SRL group used more self-regulated strategies, performed better in achievement tests, and was less distracted by task-irrelevant thoughts than the STR and REG groups. ConclusionsOur interventions are compatible with domain-specific instructions in multiple subjects and can guide and prompt self-regulatory learning processes in elementary classrooms. Current findings also reiterate the importance of the teachers’ role in research-based interventions to increase ecological validity and applicability. We shed light on the potential mechanism that underlies the relationship between enhanced self-regulated learning and motivational and cognitive outcomes.

Psychometric analysis of a tool to assess metamotivational strategies in undergraduate anesthesia students

Background & Objective: Undergraduate anesthesia students benefit from motivational self-regulation strategies when facing specific academic challenges to maintain and improve their academic motivation. Due to the absence of valid and reliable instruments to assess these strategies, the present study aimed at the psychometrical analysis of MSMQ (Metamotivational Strategies in Medical Students) which is used to measure meta-motivational strategies in undergraduate anesthesia students. Materials & Methods: In this psychometric study, 358 undergraduate anesthesia students were selected by convenience sampling method. The research community included undergraduate anesthesia students in Iran, and the MSMQ questionnaire was provided for them to complete. Its validity was determined by face and content validity methods, and its reliability was determined by the internal consistency method. The confirmatory factor analysis method was used to check construct validity. Results: The CVI and CVR values were obtained at ≥ 0.80 for all items. In the confirmatory factor analysis, the factor loading of all items was reported to be ≤ 0.40, and the mentioned instrument enjoyed the goodness of fit indices (RMSEA = 0.064, NNFI = 0.96, CFI = 0.97, SRMR = 0.06, GFI = 0.86). Acceptable reliability coefficients were obtained for the subscales, and Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the whole questionnaire was 0.922. Conclusion: As evidenced by the results of this study, the MSMQ questionnaire is a valid and reliable instrument; therefore, it can be used for Iranian undergraduate anesthesia students.

Coping With the Cost of Caring, Part 2: Individualized Strategies to Help PE and Health Teachers Persist

A collective priority of teachers is to facilitate students in thriving academically, personally, and socially. However, the challenges associated with compassion fatigue (i.e., the mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion that comes with working with and caring for individuals who are impacted by distress and trauma) combined with personal and occupational stressors are quickly pushing teachers outside of the profession (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2022). Until present educational systems are reformed in a way that provides relief to teachers, the second part of this series offers teachers guided opportunities to explore, personalize, and practice practical self-care strategies related to managing compassion fatigue and promoting overall well-being within the educational setting. Considering the personal, sociopolitical, and cultural limitations of practicing capitalistic self-care, the following guided activities include (a) self-awareness exercises that examine possible patterns of personal and contextual emotional distress; (b) the identification and promotion of protective factors that mitigate occupational stress including collegial social support and strengthening self-efficacy through defining and celebrating personal measures of success; (c) self-regulation strategies that relieve the stress response and enhance emotional resilience including deep breathing, and mindful self-compassion; and (d) planning for implementation inside the school setting. Teachers will reflect on techniques and strategies that best support their occupational well-being. Finally, implications in support of protecting teachers against compassion fatigue are discussed, including proactive recommendations for pre-service and early-career teachers. Additional resources that may assist teachers in seeking support for emotional well-being are included.

Development and validation of the Self-Regulated Translation Learning Strategy Scale (SRTLSS)

Self-regulated learning (SRL) has been highlighted as a critical aspect of translation learning. However, past work in translation learning has rarely sought to synthesize translation learning strategies under a self-regulated learning paradigm. Further research would be confined by the paucity of a psychometrically sound instrument to measure learners' self-regulated translation learning strategies. This study aimed to develop a reliable and valid self-regulated translation learning strategy scale (SRTLSS). Based on relevant literature, we hypothesized a hierarchical model and generated items for the SRTLSS. Drawing on the response from 873 Chinese English majors, the validated SRTLSS had 25 items addressing five dimensions: self-control, meaning fulfillment, value and interest, text processing, and retrieving strategies. Results demonstrated the SRTLSS has good measurement validity and reliability with strong invariance across undergraduate and graduate students. The SRTLSS can be used as a complementary tool to diagnose learners' weaknesses and strengths in translation teaching and learning.

Stress response and experiential avoidance among firefighters: Preliminary insights from network analyses

Firefighters are at increased risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to exposure to potentially traumatic events during their careers. However, little is known about the prevalence of PTSD among this population, particularly when taking moderating variables into account. Using Gaussian Graphical Models and Directed Acyclic Graphs, we conducted network analyses to examine the interactions between clusters of PTSD symptoms, perceived stress, hardiness, and experiential avoidance among 187 firefighters. The data and code are published with the paper. Experiential avoidance, as part of psychological inflexibility, was found to be the only variable that interacted with PTSD symptomatology. Strong positive associations were observed between experiential avoidance and the “negative mood and cognitions” subscale of the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Through this association, other PTSD symptoms were activated, particularly avoidance and arousal. Our findings suggest that experiential avoidance and negative mood and cognition symptoms are particularly important in the expression of PTSD symptomatology in firefighters. In addition, experiential avoidance may be used as a coping strategy to reduce perceived stress during potentially traumatic events. Therefore, experiential avoidance may be a prime target for future interventions and training focused on flexible self-regulation strategies in this population.

Profiles of perceived physical features and emotional experiences in favorite places: Discovering ambivalent place preferences

Previous research has proposed that everyday favorite places can be used as restorative niches to support emotional self-regulation and enhance subjective well-being. The study aimed to investigate how perceived physical characteristics of favorite places and emotional experiences in the place form meaningful configurations. Appraisals of favorite place attributes and place-related emotional experiences of Finnish and Hungarian participants (N = 259 and 290, respectively) were collected via online assessment. Joint factor analysis of the favorite place appraisals provided two factors of physical attributes (natural and urban characteristics) and two factors of emotional experiences (self-recovery and distress). Content analytically detected types of favorite places differed meaningfully across the four factors and between the two nationalities. Latent profile analyses of the factors in the two samples yielded four types of person-environment fit in the favorite place in the Finnish and five in the Hungarian sample. Beyond subgroups with restorative place experiences ("self-restoration in nature"), some subgroups showed ambivalent place characteristics. These included "places of distress" and "environments for distress and recovery" at home and in nature. Results indicate a novel phenomenon called "distress-related" or "ambivalent place preference." These results highlight the complexity of environmental self-regulation strategies relating to favorite places and the need for cross-cultural studies and dynamic, process-oriented research approaches.

Growth mindset and school burnout symptoms in young adolescents: the role of vagal activity as potential mediator.

Experiencing school burnout symptoms can have negative consequences for learning. A growth mindset, the belief that human qualities such as intelligence are malleable, has previously been correlated with fewer school burnout symptoms in late adolescents. This might be because adolescents with a stronger growth mindset show more adaptive self-regulation strategies and thereby increasing resilience against academic setbacks. Here we confirmed in a sample of 426 Dutch young adolescents (11-14 years old; 48% female) that this relationship between growth mindset and school burnout symptoms holds after controlling for other potential predictors of school burnout symptoms such as academic achievement, school track, gender, and socio-economic status. Our second aim was to increase our understanding of the mechanism underlying the relation between mindset and school burnout, by measuring physiological resilience (vagal activity, a measure of parasympathetic activity, also known as heart rate variability or HRV) in a subsample (n = 50). We did not find any relation between vagal activity and growth mindset or school burnout symptoms, nor could we establish a mediating effect of vagal activity in their relation. In conclusion, we found evidence for a potential protective effect of a growth mindset on school burnout symptoms in young adolescents, but not for physiological resilience (vagal activity) as an underlying mechanism. The protective effect of growth mindset as confirmed in our younger sample can be leveraged in interventions to prevent increasing school burnout symptoms.

Exploring Motivational Beliefs and Self-Regulated Learning Strategies in Learning among Undergraduates

Exploring Motivational Beliefs and Self-Regulated Learning Strategies in Learning among Undergraduates

Effects of SRSD writing interventions in grade 3: examining the added value of attention vs. transcription training components

Children’s writing depends on strategic and self-regulated behaviors as well as on attention and transcription skills. Despite the well-established effectiveness of interventions based on the self-regulated strategy development model (SRSD), little is known about their effects when combined with the explicit teaching and systematic training of attention or transcription. This study compared the effects of SRSD interventions that taught students a planning strategy and how to use it compose text, with additional components of attention (via focused meditation exercises) or transcription (via copy and alphabet exercises). We used a quasi-experimental design with three groups of Portuguese third graders: SRSD + attention (n = 42), SRSD + transcription (n = 37), and wait list (n = 34). Measures of transcription, executive functions, motivation, written production, and academic achievement were collected before and after the interventions. Analyses of co-variance revealed that the SRSD + transcription group surpassed the others in terms of handwriting fluency as well as in terms of spelling accuracy, though only among the weakest spellers at pretest. Moreover, in comparison to the wait list group, both SRSD groups showed better planning skills, wrote more complete texts, and displayed better executive functioning at posttest. After the intervention, though the SRSD + transcription group produced better texts than their peers, the SRSD + attention group achieved better academic performance, but only among those with poorer grades at pretest. Regarding motivation, we only found an effect of the SRSD + transcription intervention on self-efficacy for ideation, among students with lower self-efficacy at pretest. These findings suggest the importance of articulating writing and self-regulation strategies with attention and transcription training in early schooling.

Restorative methods as a strategy for the prevention of violence and bullying in primary and secondary schools in Mexico: An exploratory study

School coexistence processes are mediated by conflict situations that are often not adequately, immediately and comprehensively resolved by schools, giving rise to violence. School violence has become a matter of global priority not only at the school or family level, but also socially due to its magnitude and scope. In the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA), reported in 2018 that 23% of students in Mexico had suffered bullying at least once a month, these data are worrying as they reveal high rate of violence. Considering the increase of violence in Mexican educational institutions, we wonder if students' awareness in the use of communication to resolve disagreements would be achieved after participating in a conflict prevention project applying restorative practices.The objective of this study was to test whether students acquired greater emotional self-regulation, self-determination, and peaceful strategies to resolve conflicts after participating in a project centred on the restorative paradigm.A total of 336 students from an elementary school and a high school located in Mexico participated in this study. An ad hoc questionnaire was administered to the students by a restorative justice specialist in the middle of the school year. Statistical analyses were performed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences V. 25. The results obtained showed that, after the implementation of this program for five months, students in both schools showed greater emotional self-regulation and self-determination. In conclusion, providing students with restorative strategies to resolve disputes favoured the use of peaceful conflict resolution strategies.

The challenges of writing from sources in college developmental courses: Self-regulated strategy instruction.

The challenges of writing from sources in college developmental courses: Self-regulated strategy instruction.