An explanatory model of academic achievement based on aptitudes, goal orientations, self-concept and learning strategies

As a result of studies examining factors involved in the learning process, various structural models have been developed to explain the direct and indirect effects that occur between the variables in these models. The objective was to evaluate a structural model of cognitive and motivational variables predicting academic achievement, including general intelligence, academic self-concept, goal orientations, effort and learning strategies. The sample comprised of 341 Spanish students in the first year of compulsory secondary education. Different tests and questionnaires were used to evaluate each variable, and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was applied to contrast the relationships of the initial model. The model proposed had a satisfactory fit, and all the hypothesised relationships were significant. General intelligence was the variable most able to explain academic achievement. Also important was the direct influence of academic self-concept on achievement, goal orientations and effort, as well as the mediating ability of effort and learning strategies between academic goals and final achievement.     

父母学业参与、父母学业压力与青少年早期的学业投入:有调节的中介模型

为探讨父母学业参与和学业压力与青少年早期学业投入之间的关系,考察成就目标取向的中介作用,以及学业成就水平在该中介过程中的调节作用,对2487名初一学生进行测查,结果发现：（1）父母学业参与正向预测青少年早期个体的学业投入、负向预测学业抽离,父母学业压力正向预测学业抽离;（2）掌握目标取向在父母学业参与和青少年早期的学业投入之间起正向中介作用,在父母学业参与和学业抽离间发挥负向中介作用;表现回避目标取向在父母学业压力和学业抽离间具有正向中介作用;（3）掌握目标取向的中介作用受到学业成就水平的调节。研究结果揭示了父母学业参与和学业压力对青少年早期的学业投入的共同作用,为从家庭层面提高青少年的学业投入水平提供了参考。     

父母学业参与、父母学业压力与青少年早期的学业投入:有调节的中介模型

为探讨父母学业参与和学业压力与青少年早期学业投入之间的关系,考察成就目标取向的中介作用,以及学业成就水平在该中介过程中的调节作用,对2487名初一学生进行测查,结果发现：（1）父母学业参与正向预测青少年早期个体的学业投入、负向预测学业抽离,父母学业压力正向预测学业抽离;（2）掌握目标取向在父母学业参与和青少年早期的学业投入之间起正向中介作用,在父母学业参与和学业抽离间发挥负向中介作用;表现回避目标取向在父母学业压力和学业抽离间具有正向中介作用;（3）掌握目标取向的中介作用受到学业成就水平的调节。研究结果揭示了父母学业参与和学业压力对青少年早期的学业投入的共同作用,为从家庭层面提高青少年的学业投入水平提供了参考。     

Academic and social self-concept: effects of teaching styles and gender in English as a foreign language setting

This study examined the relationship between academic and social self-concept and teachers’ teaching styles (authoritative, authoritarian and permissive). The participants included 511 school students (53.2% females). They completed the Self-Definition Questionnaire (SDQ-I) and the Teacher Authority Questionnaire. Data were analysed to predict self-concept from teaching styles. On the one hand, females’ academic self-concept was positively predicted by authoritative and permissive teaching. However, their social self-concept was only predicted by permissive teaching. On the other hand, males’ academic and social self-concepts were not predicted by any of the teaching styles. Teaching styles seem to support learning self-concept in female students more strongly than in male students. The findings contribute to social cognitive theories when applied to cross-cultural settings.     

成就目标定向在学业自我概念与学业成绩关系中的调节作用:基于内/外参照模型

为了探究成就目标定向在学业自我概念与学业成绩关系中的调节作用,采用语文学业自我概念量表、数学学业自我概念量表和成就目标定向量表对1515名初中生进行测查。结果显示：(1)初中生语文-数学学业自我概念建构过程符合内/外参照模型(Internal/External Frame of Reference Model, I/EM);(2)掌握回避对I/EM的维度比较路径存在调节作用,掌握回避得分越高越易受维度比较效应的影响,该现象对于语文成绩和数学成绩相对差的学生更明显;(3)成绩回避对I/EM的社会比较路径存在调节作用,成绩回避得分越高越不易受社会比较效应的影响,该现象对于语文成绩和数学成绩相对好的学生更明显。本研究揭示了持有不同成就目标定向的初中生在学业自我概念建构过程中的差异,对引导初中生建构积极学业自我概念具有重要启示。     

A Comparison of Gifted,General, and Special Learning Needs Students on Academic and Social Self-Concept

The purpose of this study was to compare students identified as gifted, general, and having special learning needs on academic and social self-concept. The three groups of students were identified by their schools according to their academic abilities. Gifted students were selected because of inordinately high academic abilities, those with special learning needs because of inordinate academic difficulties, and general students because their academic abilities were not at either extreme. Junior high school students (N = 243) completed the Tennessee Self-Concept Scale and the School Attitude Measure. These measures were given in September and then repeated in May of the same academic year. Gifted students tended to score highest on both academic and social self-concept, although this relationship was influenced somewhat by sex. Students with special learning needs scored lowest on all variables. Differences found in the September testing were maintained in May. Educational implications of these results are elaborated.     

Academic goals and learning strategies in secondary education Spanish students with social anxiety / Metas académicas y estrategias de aprendizaje en estudiantes españoles de Educación Secundaria Obligatoria con ansiedad social

The purpose of this study was to analyse the relationship between high social anxiety, academic goals and learning strategies in a sample of 2,022 (51.1% male) Spanish adolescents aged 12–16. The Social Phobia and Anxiety Inventory (SPAI), Achievement Goal Tendencies Questionnaire (AGTQ) and Learning and Studies Skills Strategies Inventory — High School Version (LASSI-HS) were used to assess the variables. The results showed no statistically significant differences in goal orientations between students with and without high social anxiety. However, students with high social anxiety used learning strategies significantly less. In addition, the logistic regression results indicated that high social anxiety acts as a significant predictor for setting social reinforcement goals and learning and study strategies.     

高一学生成就目标特征模式及学业适应:基于潜在剖面分析

本研究采用潜在剖面分析技术探究高中生成就目标的特征模式及学业适应。被试为732名来自北京、广东、福州和西安各一所高中的高一学生,本研究采用问卷法收集学生的成就目标取向、学习效能、学业自我阻碍、学习策略和考试焦虑的数据。结果发现：（1）学生中存在成功导向、学业淡漠、典型掌握导向和非典型掌握导向四种类型,其中,典型和非典型掌握导向型所占比例较高,成功导向型和学业淡漠型所占比例较低;（2）成功导向组学生在学习效能、学习策略、学业自我阻碍和考试焦虑上的得分最高,学业淡漠组在各学业适应指标上得分最低,典型和非典型掌握导向组得分处于成功导向组和学业淡漠组中间。本研究结果对预防和干预学业适应不良具有重要意义。     

Parenting stress, perceived parenting behaviors, and adolescent self-concept in European American families

This study assesses whether the stresses associated with parenting a child are indirectly related to adolescent self-concept through parenting behaviors. We examined longitudinal associations among mothers' and fathers' parenting stress at age 10, children's perceptions of parenting at age 10, and adolescents' self-concept at age 14 in 120 European American families. Mothers' and fathers' parenting stress was related to children's perceptions of acceptance and psychologically controlling behavior, and psychologically controlling behavior (and lax control for fathers) was related to adolescent self-concept. We further examined which domains of parenting stress and perceived parenting behaviors were associated with adolescents' scholastic competence, social acceptance, physical appearance, and behavioral conduct. Parenting stress was related to specific parenting behaviors, which were, in turn, related to specific domains of self-concept in adolescence. Parenting stress appears to exert its effects on early adolescent self-concept indirectly through perceived parenting behavior.     

Relationships between self-concept and achievement

This study is based on a multifaceted and hierarchical model of self-concept and explores the relationships between the various facets of self-concept and academic achievement. The model of self-concept has general self-concept at the apex, then academic self-concept, presentation of self, and social self-concept. There are 7 third-order factors: achievement, ability, and classroom self-concepts (academic), physical self-concepts (social). Further, there are four specific-subject and peer and family self-concepts (social). Further, there are four specific-subject self-concepts. The argument proposed in this study is that the relations between achievement and the facets of academic self-concept are greater than the relations between achievement and presentation of self and social self-concept. This argument is not rejected. Adolescents consistently evaluate themselves across various academic subjects, but there are no relationships between achievement and other aspects of the self.     

父母教养方式与中学生学业倦怠的关系:自我概念的中介作用

以社会认知理论为基础,使用父母教养方式、自我描述问卷和学业倦怠问卷对1201名中学生进行施测,探讨了中学生父母教养方式、自我概念和学业倦怠之间的关系。研究发现:(1)积极的父母教养方式与学业倦怠及其三维度呈显著负相关,与学业、非学业自我概念呈显著正相关;消极的父母教养方式与学业倦怠呈现显著正相关,与学业、非学业自我概念显著负相关;学业、非学业自我概念与学业倦怠及其三维度都具有显著负相关;(2)学业自我概念与非学业自我概念在积极、消极父母教养方式与学业倦怠关系间起部分中介作用。     

Effects of Academic Achievement and Gender on Academic and Social Self-Concept: A Replication Study

Female and male eighth-grade students representing very high, moderately high, and average levels of achievement were compared on measures of academic and social self-concept. Most of the differences were in academic self-concept, which was positively related to level of academic achievement. There also was an interaction of gender and academic achievement on academic self-concept. Average achieving girls had lower academic self-concept scores than all other groups of students. In addition, boys scored higher than girls on measures of academic self-concept and job competence. There were no significant differences on any of the social self-concept measures. The counseling implications of these findings for gifted students and girls of average achievement are discussed.     

Academic Success of Mexican Origin Adolescent Boys and Girls: The Role of Mothers’ and Fathers’ Parenting and Cultural Orientation

To understand the role that Mexican origin parents play in their children's academic success, this study used structural equation modeling to evaluate the associations of parents' parenting practices (warmth, monitoring, harshness, and academic involvement) and cultural orientations (enculturation and acculturation) with their adolescents' grades, classroom behavior, and association with peers who get into trouble at school. Data were obtained from teachers, mothers, fathers, and male and female adolescents in 560 Mexican origin families living in the southwest U.S. Results indicated that mothers' and fathers' parenting practices and cultural orientations were linked to adolescents' academic outcomes. However, there were differences for boys and girls. Results are discussed in relation to parent and adolescent gender roles and implications for intervention.     

Genetic and Environmental Influences on Achievement Goal Orientations Shift with Age

Students engage in learning activities with different achievement goal orientations. Some students pursue learning for learning sake (i.e. mastery goal orientation), some are driven by gaining favourable judgement of their performance (i.e. performance approach goal orientation), and others focus on avoiding negative judgement (i.e. performance avoidance goal orientation). These goal orientations are linked with academic achievement, and troublingly, students report decreasing levels of goal orientations across the school years. However, little is known concerning the mechanisms that drive this decline. In a large (N = 891 twin pairs) cross‐sectional genetically informative sample (age = 8 to 22 years), we found that older students reported lower goal orientations. Then, we identified shifts in the magnitude of genetic and environmental variance in each goal orientation. For example, variance in mastery goal orientation was primarily associated with environmental factors during the elementary school years. As students entered high school, genetic influences increased, replacing shared environmental influences. Finally, we situated these findings in the larger nomological network by testing associations with psychological constructs (e.g. personality and cognitive ability) and contextual variables (e.g. parents, schools, and peers). The development of academic motivation is complex with many interconnecting factors that appear to shift with age © 2019 European Association of Personality Psychology     

General self-concept and life satisfaction for boys with differing levels of physical coordination: the role of goal orientations and leisure participation

Participation in leisure-time activities, self-concept perceptions and individual dispositional goal orientations were examined as mediators of relationships between physical coordination and self-evaluations of life satisfaction and general self-concept for 173 boys aged 10-13 years. Participants completed seven-day activity diaries and 12-month retrospective recall questionnaires recording participation in leisure-time activities. Self-report measures of self-concept, global life satisfaction and dispositional goal orientations were also completed. Results showed that boys with moderate to severe physical coordination difficulties had significantly lower self-concept perceptions of physical ability and appearance, peer and parent relations and general self-concept, as well as lower life satisfaction than boys with medium to high levels of physical coordination. The relationships between boys' physical coordination and their self-perceptions of life satisfaction and general self-concept were significantly influenced by individual self-concept appraisals of physical ability and appearance, peer and parent relations. Adopting task-oriented goals was found to positively change the relationship between physical coordination and both general self-concept and life satisfaction. Team sport participation positively mediated the relationship between physical coordination and life satisfaction. The potential for team sport participation and adoption of task-oriented goals to influence life satisfaction for boys with differing levels of physical coordination was discussed.     

成就目标定向对学习倦怠的影响：学业自我效能的中介作用

采用问卷法调查了1139名初中生,运用结构方程模型探讨了学业自我效能在成就目标定向与学习倦怠关系中的中介效应。结果发现：(1) 学习目标定向和成绩接近定向与学习倦怠具有负向联系,而成绩回避定向与学习倦怠具有正向的关联;（2）学业自我效能在成就目标定向与学习倦怠的关系中起着一定的中介作用;在学习目标定向与学习倦怠、成绩接近定向与学习倦怠的关系中,学业自我效能起完全中介作用,且效果较为明显;而在成绩回避定向与学习倦怠的关系中,学业自我效能起部分中介作用,中介效应较弱。     

Relative contributions of perceived mattering to parents and friends in predicting adolescents' psychological well-being

Perceived mattering is the psychological tendency to perceive the self as significant to specific other people. The central goal of this study was to examine whether adolescents' perceived mattering across social spheres (parents and friends) is addtive or compensatory in predicting adolescents' psychological well-being. Tests of the relative importance of adolescents' perceived mattering to parents and friends for psychological well-being were conducted using data from two convenience samples. Study 1 participants were, on the average, 17.5 yr. old and living in rural northwestern United States (N=128, 50% male, n=64; 50% female, n=64). Study 2 participants, on the average, were 16.9 yr. old, from a suburban western Canadian region (N=532, 51.4% male, n=273; 48.6% female, n=259). Hierarchical regression analysed with indicators of self-concept and behavioral misconduct as dependent variables used perceived mattering to parents and perceived mattering to friends and the interaction between these two variables as independent variables. Perceived mattering in both social spheres seemed the optimal condition for adolescents. Perceived mattering to friends "added" to perceived mattering to parents in explaining variance in assessments of psychological well-being in both studies.     

A multivariate analysis of adolescents' orientations toward physician use

Health professionals know surprisingly little about the origins of the health beliefs and orientations they often seek to change, and they do not know about when, or if, changes in these orientations are likely to occur. This study is aimed at increasing our understanding of the origins and development of health beliefs and attitudes by focusing on the impact of parents' orientations toward physician utilization (inclination to consult a doctor when experiencing somatic symptoms) on the comparable orientations of their adolescent children. Hypotheses regarding direct parent-adolescent links are examined within a multivariate structural equations model relating demographics, adolescents' interpersonal competencies, and parental variables to adolescents' orientations toward physician utilization. Evidence for the development of these orientations is obtained by comparing influences across two groups of adolescents: 12- to 13-year-olds and 16- to 18-year-olds. Findings indicate that adolescents' orientations toward physician use are associated with those of their parents and that this link is generally stronger and more specific during late adolescence. The model also suggests that these orientations conform to social and cultural variables related to differences in social stratification.     

中学生自我概念、学业归因与学业成绩关系的研究

该研究采用问卷法探讨中学生自我概念、学业归因与学业成绩的关系,并分别对初中生和高中生建立了因果关系模型。两模型区别在于：（1）学业成绩对初中生自我概念的影响大于对高中生的;（2）高中生学业自我概念受内部控制、非学业自我概念受未知方控制直接影响。研究还表明：（1）初中生的学业自我概念显著高于高中生的;（2）学业自我概念、一般自我概念与学业成绩高低一致;（3）内部控制源与有势力的他人控制源显著相关。     

Shaping achievement goal orientations in a mastery-structured environment and concomitant changes in related contingencies of self-worth

Across three time-points spanning 9 months, changes in achievement goal orientations and contingencies of self-worth were assessed as a function of participating in a mastery-structured academic program for high-ability adolescents (N = 126). Endorsement of mastery goal orientations increased during the program and remained high even after students returned to their home learning environments. In contrast, performance-approach and performance-avoidance goal orientations decreased during the summer program, but returned to previous levels when assessed 6 months later. Latent growth curve models assessed the covariation of performance goal orientations and two contingencies of self-worth (outperforming others and others’ approval) hypothesized to represent elements of performance goal orientations. Changes in the contingency of self-worth based on outperforming others positively covaried with observed changes in both performance goal orientations; however, changes in self-worth contingent on others’ approval did not. Results are discussed in terms of mastery-structured environments’ potential to alter achievement goal orientations via their underlying psychological processes. Implications for achievement goal theory and the design of achievement-oriented environments are discussed.