scholarly journals Motives for Studying and Student Wellbeing: Validation of the Motivational Mindset Model

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Job Hudig ◽  
Ad W. A. Scheepers ◽  
Michaéla C. Schippers ◽  
Guus Smeets
Keyword(s):  
Joint Effect ◽  
Future Research ◽  
First Year ◽  
Study Success ◽  
Student Wellbeing ◽  
Sense Of Purpose ◽  
Ethnic Subgroups ◽  
Classification Tool ◽  
First Year University ◽  
Study Engagement

Research on the joint effect of multiple motives for studying was recently given a push in a new direction with the introduction of the motivational mindset model (MMM). This model contributes to a better understanding of study success and student wellbeing in higher education. The aim of the present study is to validate the newly developed model and the associated mindset classification tool (MCT). To this end, 662 first-year university students were classified in one of the four types of motivational mindset using the classification tool and three exploratory validation procedures were conducted through sense of purpose, study engagement, and students’ background characteristics in terms of gender and ethnicity. Both purpose and study engagement are central dimensions of student wellbeing and predictors of study success. The results show that (1) sense of purpose and study engagement differ across the four types of mindset, (2) students in the low-impact mindset show the least optimal pattern of study engagement and sense of purpose, (3) sense of purpose and study engagement are positively related and this relationship is consistent across mindsets, and (4) overall differences in purpose and study engagement between gender and ethnic subgroups stem from one specific type of motivational mindset. The results provide support for the validity of the MMM and the usefulness of the MCT. The implications of the findings are discussed as well as promising avenues for future research.

scholarly journals Motivational Mindsets and Reasons for Studying: Development and Validation of a Classification Tool

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Job Hudig ◽  
Ad W. A. Scheepers ◽  
Michaéla C. Schippers ◽  
Guus Smeets
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Social Impact ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Three Dimensions ◽  
Future Research ◽  
First Year ◽  
Study Success ◽  
Student Sample ◽  
Classification Tool ◽  
First Year University

First-year university students have multiple motives for studying and these motives may interact. Yet, past research has primarily focused on a variable-centered, dimensional approach missing out on the possibility to study the joint effect of multiple motives that students may have. Examining the interplay between motives is key to (a) better explain student differences in study success and wellbeing, and (b) to understand different effects that interventions can have in terms of wellbeing and study success. We therefore applied a student-centered, multidimensional approach in which we explored motivational profiles of first-year university students by combining three dimensions of motives for studying (self-transcendent, self-oriented, and extrinsic) which have been shown to be differently related to academic functioning. Using cluster analysis in two independent, consecutive university student cohorts (n = 763 and n = 815), we identified four meaningful profiles and coined them motivational mindsets. We validated the four mindset profiles not only within each student sample but also found almost identical profiles between the student samples. The motivational mindset profiles were labeled: high-impact mindset, low-impact mindset, social-impact mindset, and self-impact mindset. In addition to validating the paradigm, we developed a mindset classification tool to further use these mindsets in practice and in future research.

scholarly journals Self-efficacy in first-year university students: a descriptive study

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Alvarez-Huerta ◽  
Iñaki Larrea ◽  
Alexander Muela ◽  
José Ramón Vitoria
Keyword(s):  
Social Sciences ◽  
Student Motivation ◽  
Self Efficacy ◽  
Future Research ◽  
First Year ◽  
Professional Career ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The University ◽  
First Year University ◽  
Motivation And Learning

The study and analysis of the self-efficacy beliefs of students has become an important line of educational research. The purpose of this study, conducted at the University of Mondragon (Spain), is to explore the different perceptions concerning the creative and entrepreneurial self-efficacy of students on their entrance to university. Results revealed clear patterns with regards to discipline and gender. Students commencing their degrees in social sciences show lower creative and entrepreneurial self-efficacy perceptions than their peers in other disciplines. Women show lower scores than men across different disciplines with the exception of women commencing engineering studies. Self-efficacy has been related to student motivation and learning and has been found influential in the choice of the professional career. The high significance of this construct in education makes the results of this study have clear implications for the development of learning environments that address the differences found between gender and disciplines. Directions for future research are also indicated.

scholarly journals Early tracking or finally leaving? Determinants of early study success in first-year university students

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 376-393 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jasperina Brouwer ◽  
Ellen Jansen ◽  
Adriaan Hofman ◽  
Andreas Flache
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
First Year ◽  
Study Success ◽  
First Year University

scholarly journals L1 Use in L2 Academic Essays: A Study of L1 Arabic Writers’ Views

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
Nahla N. Bacha
Keyword(s):  
Content Analysis ◽  
Future Research ◽  
First Year ◽  
Rhetorical Patterns ◽  
Institutions Of Higher Learning ◽  
Student Questionnaire ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
L1 Use ◽  
First Year University ◽  
Arabic Students

Research findings indicate conflicting views as to interference from L1 rhetorical patterns in the essays written by students whose first language is not English. Essays are still considered important for required assignments and exams in institutions of higher learning, but the challenge for L1 Arabic students is to express their ideas clearly. Although there have been studies of the use of L1 in L2 writing, there are very few rigorous ones done on L1 Arabic texts in Lebanon and specifically from the students’ viewpoint. This study aims to evaluate, holistically and analytically, according to language, organization and content, the expository academic essays written by first year university L1 Arabic students and to examine any significant correlation between these scores and the quality of these essays through content analysis. In addition, students’ perceptions of any problems they have in writing the academic essay are surveyed through a questionnaire. Results indicate a significant positive correlation between students’ essay scores and the content analysis. However, findings from the student questionnaire revealed that they do not view any significant interference from L1 nor any significant problems in writing the academic essays which are contrary to the essay scores and content analysis results. Recommendations are made for L2 contexts and future research. 

scholarly journals The Use of Journals to Develop Grammatical Accuracy in Writing

MANUSYA ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 90-108
Author(s):  
Walaipun Puengpipattrakul
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Journal Writing ◽  
Process Writing ◽  
Learning Activity ◽  
Future Research ◽  
First Year ◽  
Grammatical Accuracy ◽  
First Year University ◽  
Journal Entries ◽  
Dialogue Journaling

The researcher proposes, in this paper, her action research with a quasi quantitative and qualitative design, to provide some important insights into the use of journal writing as a means to improve grammatical accuracy of first-year university Thai undergraduates with no prior exposure to journal writing in English. The data on the undergraduates’ grammatical accuracy were analyzed through their journal entries covering both dialogue-journaling and process-writing entries, while their opinions of journal entries and grammatical accuracy were obtained through their dialogue journaling entries and interview responses. Findings are discussed, and recommendations for future research are made. It is also hoped that journal writing can be another useful learning activity and a teaching alternative to enhance EFL undergraduates’ grammatical accuracy in English.

Students’ knowledge and attitudes towards GMOs and nanotechnology

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 628-638 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharareh Hekmat ◽  
Lindsay Nicole Dawson
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Genetically Modified Organisms ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Future Research ◽  
First Year ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Knowledge And Attitudes ◽  
Validated Questionnaire ◽  
Nutritional Studies ◽  
First Year University

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate knowledge and attitudes toward genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and nanotechnology among the Canadian youth demographic. The primary objective of this pilot study was to investigate the knowledge and attitudes toward GMOs and nanotechnology among first year university students. The secondary objective was to compare knowledge and attitudes toward GMOs and nanotechnology among students studying nutrition as to students who do not study nutrition. Design/methodology/approach A questionnaire was developed by researchers and student volunteers. This questionnaire was distributed to first year university classes at Western University. The multiple-choice questions were analyzed using SAS, and open-ended questions were analyzed using theme analysis. Findings GMO knowledge was strong for both populations, however questions related to the percentage of GM foods grown in Canada indicated nutrition students had a stronger GMO knowledge (p = 0.031). Open-ended questions revealed overall attitudes toward GMOs were either unsure or negative between both populations. Nutrition students had a more positive attitude toward nanotechnology, and a slightly stronger knowledge regarding applications of nanotechnology (p = 0.006). Theme analysis indicated that participants enrolled in nutritional studies were less apprehensive toward GMOs. No differences were indicated in open-ended questions related to nanotechnology between both groups, which may be due to the lack of awareness related to the novelty of the technology. Research limitations/implications Without a validated questionnaire, this reduces the reliability of the results from the questionnaire. The questionnaire was carefully designed by combining previous studies questionnaires, as well as producing questions from related literature, which increases the reliability and accuracy of the questionnaire. In addition, the questionnaires underwent several rounds of pre-piloting as well as multiple revisions with current health-care professions to increase the reliability and accuracy of the questionnaire. Practical implications This study will assist in understanding the current knowledge of GMOs and nanotechnology among first year university students. This will then allow us to understand if knowledge has a factor in altering students’ attitudes toward these technologies. If students do not have a strong knowledge toward these technologies, then this may lead to the potential implementation of education regarding GMOs and nanotechnology. As these technologies are emerging and being used in everyday food items, individuals should be aware of the implications, as well as the benefits of these technologies. Originality/value This is the first study regarding this topic in Canada. Results from this study provide baseline data that may be used to conduct future research.

The Need to Belong and the Relationship Between Loneliness and Health

2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 194-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Freda-Marie Hartung ◽  
Britta Renner
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Social Situation ◽  
First Year ◽  
Health State ◽  
Need To Belong ◽  
First Year University ◽  
Perceived Social Isolation ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Humans are social animals; consequently, a lack of social ties affects individuals’ health negatively. However, the desire to belong differs between individuals, raising the question of whether individual differences in the need to belong moderate the impact of perceived social isolation on health. In the present study, 77 first-year university students rated their loneliness and health every 6 weeks for 18 weeks. Individual differences in the need to belong were found to moderate the relationship between loneliness and current health state. Specifically, lonely students with a high need to belong reported more days of illness than those with a low need to belong. In contrast, the strength of the need to belong had no effect on students who did not feel lonely. Thus, people who have a strong need to belong appear to suffer from loneliness and become ill more often, whereas people with a weak need to belong appear to stand loneliness better and are comparatively healthy. The study implies that social isolation does not impact all individuals identically; instead, the fit between the social situation and an individual’s need appears to be crucial for an individual’s functioning.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document