International Journal of Educational Psychology

Bridging Learning Experiences In and Out of School: Students’ Views

Judith Oller, Anna Engel, Maria José Rochera — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0200

This article presents an exploratory study examining the importance that students attribute to pedagogical strategies focused on bridging learning in-and-out of school. The aim is twofold: to analyse students’ views of such strategies in different types of school (personalised learning -PL- and mirror schools), and to investigate whether different perceptions appear among three selected PL schools according to their degree of implementation of such strategies. We have administered the EPAE-A questionnaire to a sample of 3001 students (1481 from 5 PL schools, and 1520 from 5 mirror schools) to determine the value to these type of strategies for learning. The results indicate broad student agreement on the importance of connected learning strategies for learning and engagement in both groups. Moreover, our analysis reveals a certain relationship between the amount of pedagogical strategies aimed at promoting connections between in and out of school learning in the three selected cases and the perceived frequency reported in the questionnaire. In conclusion, our study highlights different elements to help teachers implement connected learning strategies in classrooms.

Alternative Grit Models: Explorations Into the Psychometric Properties of Grit-S and Academic Performance

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0200

Grit, the passion for achieving long-term goals, has been conceived as a two-dimensional construct (Consistency of interest and Perseverance of effort). The construct is well known for its easy measurement and its relationship with performance, including academic performance. However, there have been different criticisms, such as the overlap of grit with other personality characteristics, the variability in the psychometric structure of the Grit-O and Grit-S tests, and the fact that some work reports a weak influence of grit on academic performance. Within this framework, this study contrasts different psychometric structures of the Grit-S scale and its relationship with the academic performance of higher education students. So, with this purpose, a dichotomous model of high and low grit, a K-medias clustering model, and three structural equation models have been tested. The results indicate that (a) there is a statistically significant relationship between grit —mainly determined by the consistency dimension— and academic performance, although it decreases when controlling for contextual variables, and (b) Consistency mediates the relationship between Perseverance and academic performance. The instability of grit to predict performance is discussed, and the thesis of a two-sub-dimensional structure is supported.

Growth mindset, Grit, and Academic Self-efficacy as determinants of Academic Performance in Peruvian university students

Fri, 21 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0200

Currently, the study of non-cognitive variables and their effect on the academic performance of students has gained relevance. In view of that, the purpose of the present study was to analyze through structural equation modeling to what extent growth mindset, self-efficacy, and grit have direct effects on student performance. For this, an explanatory design of latent variables was followed, in which 305 university students participated, including men (41.8%) and women (58.2%), who reported an average age of 22.8 (SD = 3.5), all included due to convenience. To measure the independent variables, the ITIS (growth mindset), Grit-S (tenacity) and EPAESA (academic self-efficacy) were applied, while for the measurement of the dependent variable, the grades of the students of the two last semesters were used. Among the main findings, it is reported that growth mindset, grit, and self-efficacy have direct and significant effects on the academic performance of students. In conclusion, this set of non‑cognitive variables successfully explains the academic performance of the study participants.

Student Engagement Variations across Institutions and Disciplines: Findings from Azerbaijan

Razia Isaeva, Satu Uusiautti, Ilkka Ratinen — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0200

Although student engagement has been a widely researched area known to improve student learning and a topic of scholarly debate for many decades now, this has yet to be the case in Azerbaijan. Data from the National Survey of Student Engagement, conducted among 433 undergraduate students of the 18-23 age range (M = 21.37, SD = 1.43) at eight universities in Azerbaijan, allowed us to examine variations in the conditions meant to foster student engagement, as well as students’ perspectives on improving their educational experiences. Specifically, we looked at differences related to academic challenges, learning with peers, teacher experiences, and campus environment. Student engagement varied across disciplines. Small universities in the capital city provided better collaborative learning conditions. However, students at regional universities were more satisfied with the quality of student-faculty interactions. Nonetheless, students saw a strong need for fundamental changes in higher education in Azerbaijan, focusing on improving the quality of teachers, teaching and the curriculum. The study provided an overview of student engagement variations across institutions and disciplines and how students conceptualise necessary improvements in student experiences. Institutional leaders must understand the variations for seeking essential changes in the HE system to effectively accommodate students’ needs and expectations.