Self-regulation, motivation, and math achievement in middle school: Variations across grade level and math context

The current study examined grade level, achievement group, and math-course-type differences in student self-regulation and motivation in a sample of 880 suburban middle-school students. Analysis of variance was utilized to assess group differences in student self-regulation and motivation, and linear regression analysis was used to identify variables that best predicted students' use of regulatory strategies. A key finding was that although seventh graders exhibited a more maladaptive self-regulation and motivation profile than sixth graders, achievement groups in seventh grade (high, moderate, low) were more clearly differentiated across both self-regulation and motivation than achievement groups in sixth grade. The pattern of achievement group differences also varied across math course type, as self-regulation and motivation processes more consistently differentiated achievement groups in advanced classes than regular math courses. Finally, task interest was shown to be the primary motivational predictor of students' use of regulatory strategies during math learning. The study highlights the importance of identifying shifting student motivation and self-regulation during the early middle school years and the potential role that context may have on these processes.     

Working memory and individual differences in mathematics achievement: A longitudinal study from first grade to second grade

This longitudinal study examined the relationship between working memory and individual differences in mathematics. Working memory measures, comprising the phonological loop, the visuospatial sketchpad, and the central executive, were administered at the start of first grade. Mathematics achievement was assessed 4 months later (at the middle of first grade) and 1 year later (at the start of second grade). Working memory was significantly related to mathematics achievement in both grades, showing that working memory clearly predicts later mathematics achievement. The central executive was a unique predictor of both first- and second-grade mathematics achievement. There were age-related differences with regard to the contribution of the slave systems to mathematics performance; the visuospatial sketchpad was a unique predictor of first-grade, but not second-grade, mathematics achievement, whereas the phonological loop emerged as a unique predictor of second-grade, but not first-grade, mathematics achievement.     

Curriculum-Based Measurement Oral Reading as an indicator of reading achievement: A meta-analysis of the correlational evidence

This meta-analysis summarized the correlational evidence of the association between the CBM Oral Reading measure (R-CBM) and other standardized measures of reading achievement for students in grades 1–6. Potential moderating variables were also examined (source of criterion test, administration format, grade level, length of time, and type of reading subtest score). Results indicated a significant, strong overall correlation among R-CBM and other standardized tests of reading achievement and differences in correlations as a function of source of test, administration format, and reading subtest type. No differences in the magnitude of correlations were found across grade levels. In addition, there was minimal evidence of publication bias. Results are discussed in terms of existing literature and directions for future research.     

Conscientiousness and achievement motivation predict performance

A prospective survey was conducted to identify predictors of university students' grade point average (GPA) using separate samples of female (N = 472) and male (N = 142) students over 9 months. Big five personality traits and achievement motivation were measured. Correlations show that conscientiousness (C) and achievement motivation explained variation in GPA. Latent variable structural equation modelling showed that the effect of C on GPA is fully mediated by achievement motivation for both female and male students. Invariant factor and structural mediation models across the female and male groups are also reported. Finally, the mediation model is shown to remain significant after scholastic achievement is controlled. The findings are interpreted within the framework of Neo‐Socioanalytic theory. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Graduate school mentoring in clinical,counselling, and experimental academic training programs: an exploratory study

This study focused on graduate student mentoring within clinical, counselling and experimental psychology programs. A nationwide survey of 336 psychology graduate students indicated that counselling students reported higher levels of socioemotional support in their mentoring relationships, as well as higher overall levels of satisfaction, compared with clinical and experimental students. Clinical and experimental students, however, reported higher levels of selected outcome variables, such as research productivity. The relationships between mentoring qualities and several outcome variables were noted and discussed. This study adds to the developing literature concerning graduate student mentoring within professional psychology training programs.     

听美国和墨西哥专家讨论甲型H1N1流感

本文系作者2009年5月参加美国胸科年会时的见闻总结,简述了与会美国和墨西哥专家对本次甲型H1N1流感疫情的观点和看法,主要介绍了当时情况下甲型H1N1流感的严重程度、合并症情况、发展趋势、重症患者增加的应对措施以及病毒学研究进展。     

Precursors of language ability and academic performance: an inter‐generational,longitudinal study of at‐risk children

The current investigation examined whether inter‐generational transfer of risk could be revealed through mothers' and preschool‐aged children's expressive language, and whether continuity of risk persisted in these children's academic abilities, 3 years later. Participating families were drawn from the Concordia Longitudinal Risk Project, a prospective, longitudinal investigation of French‐speaking families from low‐SES Montreal neighbourhoods. At Time 1, mothers' history of childhood social withdrawal was shown to predict mothers' child‐directed language. Mothers' language complexity was also shown to be predictive of preschoolers' expressive language and was found to mediate the relationship between maternal social withdrawal and child language. At Time 2, children's language‐related academic abilities were predicted by their expressive language at preschool age. The findings support an inter‐generational continuity of risk operating through language complexity and extending to children's performance in language‐related academic abilities at school age. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

学业情绪及其影响因素

学业情绪是指在教学或学习过程中,与学生学业相关的各种情绪体验。个体的自我认知、成就目标、认知能力等个体因素以及班级、家庭、课堂等环境因素都会影响学业情绪,且自我认知是环境因素影响其学业情绪的一个重要中介变量。另外,学业情绪具有领域特异性。未来研究的方向主要在于学业情绪的界定和具体结构的深入探讨、学业情绪的发展特点、对特殊群体学生学业情绪的关注以及积极探索有效的干预措施等方面     

中小学生学业自我概念与学业成绩的交叉滞后分析:符合交互影响模型,还是发展观?

以小学五年级、初二年级和高二年级共357名学生为研究对象,采用10个月的追踪设计,运用交叉滞后回归分析,旨在揭示中小学生学业自我概念与学业成绩的相互影响,检验交互影响模型和发展观。结果发现,在前、后测中,小五学生学业自我概念得分呈现发展性差异,且均显著高于初二和高二学生;中小学生样本总体T1时间学业自我概念能显著正向预测T2时间学业成绩,T1时间学业成绩能显著正向预测T2时间学业自我概念,符合交互影响模型;小学五年级T1时间学业自我概念能显著正向预测T2时间学业成绩,符合自我增强模型;初二和高二学生T1时间学业成绩能显著正向预测T2时间学业自我概念,符合技能发展模型。结果表明随着年龄的变化,中小学生学业自我概念与学业成绩的因果关系顺序也在发生变化,支持发展观。     

青少年学业成绩不良、学业压力与意志控制的关系:一项交叉滞后研究

采用交叉滞后设计,使用学业成绩自我评定量表、青少年生活事件量表的学业分量表以及青少年早期气质量表的意志控制分量表对1263名青少年进行间隔两年的两次测查,考察青少年学业成绩不良、学业压力与意志控制的关系。潜变量交叉滞后分析发现,青少年的意志控制显著负向预测两年后的自我感知学业成绩不良,自我感知的学业成绩不良无法显著预测日后的意志控制;学业压力显著负向预测日后的意志控制,意志控制无法显著预测日后的学业压力。这些结果表明,青少年学业领域发展与自我调控能力发展间存在动态联系。