A new conceptualization of perceived control was used to test a process model describing the contribution of these perceptions to school achievement for 220 third through sixth grade students. Twelve teachers also participated. Three sets of expectations have implications for theories of perceived control and enhancement of student motivation.…

Relationships among student motivational orientation, self-regulated learning, and classroom academic performance were examined for 173 seventh graders. Results provide empirical evidence for considering motivational and self-regulated learning components in models of academic performance. Involvement in self-regulated learning is tied closely to…

Relationships among motivation, use of general and content-specific learning strategies, and achievement were examined for 283 high school geometry students early and late in the semester. Results suggest that teachers should emphasize domain-specific strategies when introducing a unit, and emphasize less domain-specific strategies later in the…

Forty-five boys and 45 girls in grades 5, 8, and 11 from schools for academically gifted students and 90 students in the same grades from regular schools described their uses of 14 self-regulated learning strategies and estimated their verbal and mathematical efficacy. Results support a triadic view of self-regulated learning. (SLD)

Structural equation modeling was used to assess the influence of past mathematics grades, performance expectancies, and value perceptions on math anxiety of 250 seventh through ninth graders. The importance of these variables for grades and course selection was also studied. Results are discussed concerning expectancy-value and self-efficacy…

Characteristics related to help-seeking (perceived competence, motivational orientation, attitudes and beliefs, and age) were examined for 177 children in grades 3, 5, and 7. By grade seven, positive and negative attitudes were influential. Developmental and individual difference factors are discussed in connection with help-seeking and academic…

Structure and meaning of efficacy were examined for 182 prospective teachers, and efficacy was related to beliefs about control and motivation. Results support competing formulations of efficacy as teacher efficacy and personal efficacy. Interaction of these factors makes important contributions to prediction of pupil control ideology and…

Thirty-four boys and 31 girls in grades 2, 4, and 6 were asked about seeking help with mathematics and reading from their parents, teachers, and classmates. Results, discussed in terms of sex and age differences, suggest that low achievers know they need help but hesitate to ask for assistance. (SLD)

Teachers' perceptions of behavior and social skills, peer and self-perceptions of social status, and academic achievement were examined for 239 kindergartners in the fall and spring. Students were classified as learning disabled (LD) prior to identification and low, average, and high achievers. Social difficulties of LD students are discussed.…

How different frames of reference affect the formation of mathematics and English self-concepts was studied for 14,825 high school sophomores from the High School and Beyond Study. Results are discussed in terms of the internal/external frame of reference model and the big-fish-little-pond effect. (SLD)

The influence of school experiences on student self-esteem was explored in a longitudinal study of 322 sixth and seventh graders. School experiences do affect self-esteem, although the impact varied from year to year and discipline to discipline. Overall climate and teacher feedback influence academic and global self-esteem. (SLD)

The relationship between the conversational competence of mildly retarded children (two speakers) and acceptance by regular education students was studied. Ninety-four students in grades four through six responded more positively to videotapes of mildly retarded children who managed conversations well and less favorably to those with…

Effects of animated presentations and practice were studied in a computer-based science lesson involving 55 fourth graders and 64 fifth graders. Results suggest that animated graphics can promote learning, and they demonstrate successful application of interactive graphics in the design of cognitively based practice activities. (SLD)

Effects of a theoretically based LOGO programing environment on executive metacognitive abilities were studied for 48 third graders who took pretests and posttests after LOGO training or no training. The LOGO group scored higher than comparisons on two metacomponential measures: correctness of response and use of an individual metacomponent. (SLD)

The effects of LOGO programing and computer-assisted instruction (CAI) on children's behaviors indicative of cooperative problem solving and effectance motivation were compared for 12 fourth and 28 sixth graders. Results suggest that LOGO may foster cognitive growth through opportunities for resolving cognitive conflict and may enhance effectance…