1. Motivation and engagement in the ‘Asian Century’: a comparison of Chinese students in Australia, Hong Kong, and Mainland China.
- Author
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Martin, A.J., Yu, Kai, and Hau, Kit-Tai
- Subjects
ACADEMIC motivation ,STUDENT engagement ,CHINESE people ,CHINESE students ,MIDDLE school students ,SOCIOCULTURAL factors ,CHILDREN ,TEENAGERS - Abstract
The present study investigated multidimensional motivation and engagement among Chinese middle school students in Australia (N = 273), Hong Kong (N = 528), and Mainland China (N = 2106; randomly selectedN = 528). Findings showed that a multidimensional model of motivation and engagement fit very well for all three groups. Multi-group invariance tests showed that the number of factors, factor loadings, factor correlations and item uniquenesses were invariant across the three groups – as were inter-correlations with a set of cognate correlates (class participation, school enjoyment, positive intentions, academic buoyancy) – hence no differences of ‘kind’. However, differences of ‘degree’ were indicated through significant mean-level effects between groups, with self-reports favouring Australian Chinese students over Hong Kong and (to a lesser extent) Mainland Chinese students. We propose these findings shed important light on Chinese students’ academic motivation and engagement and also on socio-cultural perspectives on motivation and engagement because they assist understanding about effects attributable to context and effects attributable to ethnicity. Given this, the study is a timely contribution to current understanding of the Chinese learner in this, the ‘Asian Century’. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
- Published
- 2014
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