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Post-secondary students with learning disabilities like dyslexia experience a wide range of emotions related to classroom assessment, perhaps in part because assessment may feel unfair and undermine principles related to wellbeing. To mitigate negative emotions, researchers tend to focus on teaching students how to cope with test anxiety and exam stress or encouraging instructors to improve assessment formats. These approaches, however, do not attend to the psychological experience of assessment. The purpose of this study was to examine associations amongst perceived fairness, three basic psychological needs, and six discrete emotions in the domain of classroom assessment. Results of a parallel multiple mediator analysis showed that perceptions of fairness were positively associated with psychological need satisfaction. In turn, satisfaction of competence and autonomy were related to students' emotions; whereas, relatedness was not. We describe specific recommendations for supporting students' wellbeing in assessment with particular attention to nuances for students with dyslexia.

The current study investigated the relationship between regulatory focus, perfectionism, and school burnout. Regulatory focus theory posits two self-regulatory styles: promotion focus and prevention focus. Similarly, perfectionism also consists of two components: perfectionistic strivings and perfectionistic concerns. Taken together, promotion focus and perfectionistic strivings commonly show an approach orientation, while prevention focus and perfectionistic concerns demonstrate an avoidance orientation. In school settings, a plethora of research has investigated the relationship between perfectionism and school burnout, while little research on the relationship between regulatory focus and school burnout has been conducted. Given that regulatory focus and perfectionism share a commonality, both concepts need to be examined together to predict school burnout. As such, the purpose of this paper was to extend current research by examining school burnout from both perspectives. The current study investigated the relationship between regulatory focus, perfectionism and school burnout (as measured by inadequacy, exhaustion, and cynicism). In this study, 200 undergraduate students answered a questionnaire. Then, correlation, hierarchical regression and moderation analyses were conducted. The results indicated that promotion focus negatively predicted inadequacy, while prevention focus positively predicted all three subscales of school burnout. Moreover, perfectionistic strivings positively predicted exhaustion and perfectionistic concerns positively predicted exhaustion, cynicism, and inadequacy. Limitations and future directions are discussed.

Most of what researchers know about the challenges students with learning disabilities (LDs) experience during postsecondary education is based on experiences during face-to-face learning on campus. Less is known about challenges students with LD face during learning online--the mode of instruction students had to navigate during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the purpose of our research was to examine the lived experience of undergraduate students with LD during their first full semester of online instruction as a result of the pandemic. We interviewed six students in Western Canada and used a phenomenological approach to analyze their experiences. Overall, we extracted six main themes from their interviews. Two of these themes, (a) the broad impact of having LD and (b) accommodations during COVID-19, were specific to being a student with LD. The remaining four themes were more generally related to their overall student experience: (c) online learning is different, (d) the role of others, (e) emotional impact, and (f) resilience and perseverance. We discuss these results in terms of recommendations for future research and teaching in online learning environments.

Perceived control is a psychological construct related to motivation, performance, and wellbeing. Perceived control has been studied in sport settings; however, this study considers a domain-specific perceived control measure related to athletes' sport performance. In two studies, we tested a novel domain-specific measure of perceived control over sport performance (Perceived Sport Control) adapted from Perry et al.'s (2001) perceived academic control scale. In Study 1, we employed an exploratory factor analysis to test the structure of the perceived sport control measure given its novelty in the sport domain, examined the internal reliability of the measure and how athletes' perceived sport control and academic control related to each other and demographic variables including age, year of sport eligibility, year of academic program, and hours per week training in their sport. In Study 2, we employed a confirmatory factor analysis to test the PSC measure with a larger sample based on Study 1 results. Study 1 data was collected from a Canadian sample of currently competing university (USports) athletes (N = 74) and Study 2 data was collected from a sample of Canadian and USA postsecondary athletes (N = 200). Study 1 findings supported a two-factor construct for perceived sport control reflecting action- and cognitive-based aspects of control. Factor 1 (action-based Influence) was positively associated with age and Factor 2 (cognitive-based Influence) was positively associated with perceived academic control. In Study 2, a CFA supported the two-factor PSC measure (RMSEA = .055, CFI = .98, TLI = .96, SRMR = .042) and across both studies, the two-factor measure was internally consistent. The universal application of the perceived sport control measure for understanding athletes' perceived control experiences in sport performance and across sport settings, as well as the study implications for sport research are discussed. Keywords: perceived control; student athletes; sport performance; measurement, Perceived control--a psychological construct--is considered a critical cognitive resource for humans dealing with obstacles or failures across the lifespan (Skinner, 2016). Generally, perceived control can be defined as the beliefs [...]

Students are constantly bombarded with messages about academic success and the importance of getting good grades. However, definitions of academic success are more complex than a letter grade. Many indicators to define academic success extend primarily from students' perspectives and ignore how teachers' definitions of success. This is an oversight as teachers' perspectives on academic success shape their students' perspectives on academic success for years to come, and thus represent an important voice to be included in the messaging around academic success. Thus, in this study we were interested in pre-service and in-service teachers' definitions of academic success, and how they converge or diverge with indicators outlined in current research. We found that teachers have multiple perspectives on academic success, highlighting the complexity of this construct. Moreover, many of their definitions converged with researchers; however, teachers' definitions were more varied and diverse. Our findings highlight the multidimensional nature of academic success. In closing, we identify various implications for schools and provide suggestions for future research and practice.

Teachers assume personal responsibility in four domains: student motivation, student achievement, relationships with students, and the quality of their own teaching. In all existing research, pre-service and practicing teachers score lowest in the motivation domain. This may be because some teachers view motivation as a shared responsibility or one that is contingent on external factors. Thus, the purpose of this research was to examine pre-service teachers' reflections on two different perspectives on personal responsibility for student motivation - one that reflected high internal unmitigated responsibility and one that reflected shared and contextualized responsibility. Pre-service teachers watched two video vignettes, and then reflected on the perspectives in an open-ended written format. The descriptive statistics confirmed that responsibility for motivation was the lowest of the four domains. Moreover, the percentage pre-service teacher felt responsible for student motivation predicted which video vignette they selected. Thematic analysis of pre-service teachers' reflection revealed four themes that give insight to how pre-service teachers make sense of responsibility for student motivation: people responsible, external factors, strategies to support motivation, and emotions. The results are discussed in light of methodological, theoretical, and practical implications.

The use of competition to motivate students is common but debated. The purpose of the study was: (a) to examine to whom teachers attribute the common emphasis on competition and (b) to explore the reasons teachers give to minimize competition or not in their classrooms. Teachers attribute the focus on competition least to teachers and then increasingly to students, principals, parents, and school boards. Teachers who try to minimize competition identify the importance of learning and individualization, and those who do not, promote competition as healthy and helpful. Results are discussed in terms of classroom practices and future research.

For some students, online learning, particularly as it relates to the COVID-19 pandemic, can have negative implications for self-efficacy, fatigue, and burnout. One way to combat these negative outcomes is for institutions to support students' basic psychological needs (BPNs) of autonomy, relatedness, and competence. However, online learning may also frustrate students' BPNs, particularly if they have a learning disability (LD). The purpose of the current study was to investigate the satisfaction and frustration of BPNs in relation to self-efficacy, fatigue, and burnout for students with and without LD. We surveyed postsecondary students about their courses online and examined differences between students with LD and their typical peers. We also examined BPN satisfaction and frustration as predictors of self-efficacy, fatigue, and burnout. Recommendations are provided from a universal design for learning perspective. Moreover, limitations and future research directions are discussed.

Evidence generally supports a positive association between growth mindset and academic outcomes, even if the experimental evidence for growth mindset interventions is somewhat more tenuous. From an applied perspective, the concept of growth mindsets has grown in popularity with a proliferation of materials readily available to teachers and school administrators. The purpose of this multi-method study was to explore elementary students' (ages 6-12) understanding of growth mindset messaging created by their school and teachers, and its association with students' emotions. The results showed that students were positively impacted by the growth mindset messaging, both in school and when facing challenges outside of school. Their emotions were largely positive, with the exception of frustration, which participants associated equally with a growth and a fixed mindset. Results are discussed in relation to mindset theory broadly as well as in regards to school-and teacher-initiated mindset messages.

This paper explores how to apply the principles of accommodations and universal design (UD) in research methods involved in quantitative research (e.g. questionnaires). In particular, we focus on how to make research more accessible for individuals with Learning Disabilities (LD), while also providing suggestions for potential participants of research more generally. This paper first reviews accommodations provided to students within an educational setting, focusing on the components of setting, timing, presentation and response format. Following this discussion, we discuss UD and how it can be adapted to the research process (e.g. the creation of surveys, and data collection). Next, we draw on components of accommodations and universal design to offer suggestions for those conducting research with individuals with LD. In closing, we provide a table with key UD and accommodation questions that researchers can use to guide questionnaire design thereby advancing the field when it comes to accessible research design.

Growth and fixed mindset messaging is gaining popularity. In our pilot study, we examine the mindsets of students with learning disabilities (LD) to determine how their self-beliefs relate to this messaging. Our results demonstrate that students with LD endorse growth mindsets more than fixed mindsets which is consistent with their peers without LD. Moreover, in their comments about being a student with LD, participants highlight important components of growth mindset messaging. However, some comments may reflect a false-growth mindset wherein students are only focused on effort and not the additional resources required for growth. We provide directions for future research.

Expectancy Value Theory (EVT) is a prominent theory on student motivation. To add to the growing research in this area, we investigated students within a large, mandatory course outside of the STEM areas, to examine perceptions of success utilizing an EVT lens. The aim of our study was twofold. First, to examine students' open-ended responses about what makes them feel successful. Second, to determine if students' indorsement of expectancy, value, and control could predict their feelings of success. The study consisted of 210 students who completed an online questionnaire with items related to demographics, EVT components, and questions about their success in the course. Deductive coding was utilized to examine their feelings of success based on the EVT components. Regression analysis was utilized to predict perceptions of success. Students identified several components of their course that were associated with expectancy, value, and cost. Students' perceptions of success were positively predicted by expectancy and negatively predicted by cost while value was not a significant predictor. Our results speak to the importance of expectancy, value, and cost when designing large, mandatory courses. We provided several recommendations for instructors when designing courses, and also highlight limitations and future research directions.

Background: Previous research has shown that pre-service teachers have low responsibility for student motivation and feel underprepared to deal with motivational issues. As an extension, researchers have designed interventions to shift teachers' beliefs about motivation or equip them with approaches to instruction, but never both. Aims: Following best practices for motivation interventions, we created a one-session online intervention and tested its efficacy to shift pre-service teachers' self-reported beliefs and approaches to instruction to be more supportive of student motivation. The intervention included priming, materials designed for mindsets and/or for approaches to instruction, a consolidation activity, and take-home materials. Sample: A convenience sample of 384 pre-service teachers from one Canadian university participated. Methods: We embedded an experimental design into multiple sections of a required assessment course. After completing a pre-test, participants were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: beliefs-only, approaches-only, combined beliefs and approaches, or control. After completing the online module, students received a lecture on assessment practices and motivation. Results: The results from our MANCOVA showed that pre-service teachers who participated in the beliefs-only condition reported increased levels of responsibility for student motivation, more growth mindset beliefs, and less fixed mindset beliefs than participants in the other conditions. The approaches-only condition did not influence self-reported mastery or performance approaches to instruction and the combined condition had no effect on beliefs or approaches. Conclusions: We discuss the implications for educating pre-service teachers about student motivation and suggest that beliefs and approaches to instruction need to be addressed separately.

The effects of extended time on the writing performance of university students with learning disabilities (LD) was examined. Thirty-eight students (19 LD; 19 non-LD) completed a collection of cognitive, linguistic, and literacy measures, and wrote essays under regular and extended time conditions. Limited evidence was found to support the accommodation of extended time to improved writing quality indices. Compared to the students without LD, the students with LD demonstrated increased writing fluency with extended time, but the organizational and thematic quality of their essays continued to be lower. The results are discussed in relation to current theory and research on the persistence of writing disabilities into adulthood, and the provision of empirically supported accommodations for students with LD in higher education.

During the northern hemisphere Winter 2020 academic term, university students had to adjust to remote learning in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This abrupt change provided a unique opportunity to examine students' motivation, engagement and perceptions of success and cheating under two learning conditions, namely traditional and remote. We used a single survey to collect retrospective self-report data from a convenience sample of Canadian undergraduate students (n = 98) about their motivation, engagement and perceptions of success and cheating before COVID-19 and then in remote learning. Students' achievement goals, engagement and perceptions of success all significantly decreased, while their perceptions of cheating increased. Moreover, we used regression analyses to examine associations amongst achievement goals and engagement, perceptions of success and cheating concerns. Mastery-approach goals were positively associated with more engagement and higher perceptions of success. Achievement goals were unrelated to cheating. Students in large classes and who were originally concerned about cheating became more concerned about cheating in remote learning conditions. Our study provides information to researchers and instructors about how achievement goals relate to student outcomes across learning conditions. By extension, we provide timely recommendations for instructors as they continue to wrestle with how to deliver their courses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Students with learning disabilities (LD) are attending postsecondary education more than ever, but are also less likely to complete their education compared to non-LD peers. Using the Inputs-Environment-Outcomes model of Astin, we examined students with LD and non-LD peers during their first year of postsecondary studies. Using structural equation modeling, we found that for all students, perceived academic ability had a positive direct effect on outcomes, whereas drive to achieve had only an indirect effect. Academic integration was important for grade point average and satisfaction. Social integration was important for the acquisition of knowledge and skills and satisfaction, and these connections were stronger for students with LD. Our discussion highlights potential supports for students with LD.

Preservice teachers can be considered simultaneously students and teachers and therefore likely have both academic and professional goals. However, once in a professional program, predicting professional outcomes becomes somewhat more important than academic ones. This distinction may have implications for the selection of measurement tools used in research on preservice teachers' motivation. We used a multitrait-multimethod (MTMM) design that included tests of alternative confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs), within and between method correlations, and relations with other variables to compare two measures of achievement goals: Elliot and Murayama's (2008) measure of students' achievement goals and Butler's (2007) measure of teachers' achievement goals. Results of the CFAs suggested that the scales are measuring separate constructs. The MTMM correlations, however, revealed evidence that certain factors may function similarly. This was most evident for the homotrait-heteromethod factors of mastery approach, which correlated similarly with sense of self-efficacy, emotions, and classroom mastery goal structures.

More students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and learning disabilities (LD) are being taught within the regular education classroom than ever before even though children with these disorders often require additional educational supports. Therefore, it is critical that teachers understand the challenges experienced by these students, as well as feel efficacious when it comes to teaching and supporting them. Attribution theory is a widely used theoretical framework by which to explain teachers' cognitions. We surveyed 151 practicing teachers and asked them to respond to items related to attributions for students' behaviour and their teaching self-efficacy. First, we examined teachers' perceptions of the primary cause of the difficulties experienced by students qualitatively. We open-coded responses and three major themes emerged: biology/genetics, the environment, and skill deficits. These themes differed somewhat depending on whether the student had ADHD or LD. Second, we examined the relationship between teachers' attributions for student behaviours and their sense of teaching self-efficacy quantitatively. For students with ADHD, controllable attributions predicted teachers' self-efficacy ([beta] = 0.30, p = 0.005). For students with LD, controllable and internal attributions predicted teacher self-efficacy ([beta] = 0.34, p = 0.001, [beta] = 0.24, p = 0.009, respectively). Third, we examined the results of both analyses simultaneously to determine areas of convergence and divergence with respect to attribution theory. The results have implications for both teachers and students (e.g., attributional interventions designed to foster a sense of self-efficacy), as well as provide directions for future research and teacher training.

This study examined the scoring errors across three widely used achievement tests (Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement--Second Edition [KTEA-2], Woodcock--Johnson Tests of Achievement--Third Edition [WJ-III], and the Wechsler Individual Achievement Test--Third Edition [WIAT-III]) by novice examiners. A total of 114 protocols were evaluated for differences between the measures on the frequency and type of scoring errors. Within-measure analyses were also conducted to identify particular composites or subtests that might be more prone to error. Among the three measures, the WIAT-III was found to have the most scoring elements and was, therefore, the measure most susceptible to errors in scoring. Irrespective of the measure, more errors occurred on composites requiring greater examiner inference and interpretation, similar to previous studies on the propensity of scoring errors on cognitive measures. Results are discussed in relation to assessment fidelity and to assessment training practices.

This qualitative study examines the transition to life after high school of three young men with learning disabilities (LD). The research focuses on their individual journeys from the end of grade 12 in June until to the end of May the following year and provides overarching themes as to their lived experiences during this year of transition. Using a longitudinal multiple instrumental case design, a series of four in-depth interviews were conducted with each of the three participants. The findings showed that although the students had unique experiences over the year, there were several commonalities in their stories including readiness, emotions, the importance of social connections, coping skills, changes over time, accessing supports, and learning online. We discuss the stories of the participants based on these overarching themes. Although the study only examined the experiences of three men with LD from one high school, their stories provide valuable information and highlight several recommendations for supports and services, such as types of support offered to students and the timing of these supports. Moreover, their stories highlight the need to develop a positive sense of self during the high school years, and social integration once on postsecondary campuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Academic dishonesty is an area of concern across all levels of education. While previous research has largely focused on what behaviours students engage in and what instructors do in response, little is known about why, and even less incorporates a theoretical framework. To contribute to the existing literature, our aim was to examine preservice secondary teachers' beliefs about academic dishonesty. Moreover, we utilized Attribution Theory as our theoretical framework and examined how preservice teachers engage in causal search when presented with instances of academic dishonesty. Our results demonstrate that preservice teachers have strong beliefs about what is and what is not academic dishonesty; however, context matters. Indeed, when provided with descriptive scenarios compared to discrete behaviours, ratings of academic dishonesty were significantly higher in the former than the latter. Moreover, preservice teachers draw on multiple pieces of information when engaging in the causal search process, identifying not only facts but also embellishments not present in the scenario and highlighting their beliefs around academic dishonesty. Recommendations for educators and administrators for supporting students are provided, as well as limitations and directions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Canadian Journal of Disability Studies is the property of Canadian Disability Studies Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Cognitive and linguistic components related to spelling and writing in English as a second language (ESL) and native-English speaking (EL1) third graders were examined. ESL and EL1 children performed similarly on rapid naming, phonological awareness (PA), verbal short-term and working memory, reading fluency, single-word spelling, text spelling, handwriting fluency, and paragraph writing fluency tasks, and on writing quality indices. ESL children scored lower on vocabulary, syntactic awareness and decoding fluency measures. PA predicted single-word spelling for EL1 and PA and rapid naming predicted single-word spelling for ESL. PA and rapid naming contributed to text level spelling across groups. Rapid naming and syntactic awareness predicted writing quality (content and structure) for ESL children, but syntactic awareness and oral vocabulary predicted writing quality for EL1. Transcription predicted overall writing achievement for ESL, but transcription, vocabulary, and syntactic awareness were all important to overall writing ability for EL1. Results are discussed in relation to the componential model of writing in a first or a second language.

Students with learning disabilities (LD), such as dyslexia, are at a greater risk of not completing their postsecondary education compared to their peers. Completion broadly and success more generally rest on how students navigate assessment experiences during postsecondary education. Generally, assessment is viewed as a controlling practice. From a self-determination theory (SDT) lens, highly controlling elements of schoolwork frustrate rather than satisfy students' basic psychological needs. Importantly, satisfaction, rather than frustration, supports intrinsic motivation and wellbeing. The current study examines the experiences of classroom assessment as satisfying or frustrating for students with dyslexia through an online methodology involving both Likert questions and written responses to structured open-ended questions. Overall, when students reported basic psychological need satisfaction, they likewise indicated that they received higher grades and felt more successful. From the open-ended data, we extracted three main themes and 12 sub-themes from the interviews: (a) student characteristics (including dyslexia, effort, prior knowledge, and emotions), (b) the role of others (including help, demeanor, structure, and choice), and (c) outcomes (including grades, knowledge and skills, reactions, and future impact). Taken together, when students experience classroom assessment in a way that supports their basic psychological needs, they experience better outcomes (e.g., high grades and perceived success) than when their basic psychological needs are frustrated. We discuss these results in terms of suggestions for instruction and assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Alberta Journal of Educational Research is the property of Alberta Journal of Educational Research and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Leisure/Loisir: Journal of the Canadian Association for Leisure Studies is the property of Routledge and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Academic success is an important issue as employers are looking for individuals with a postsecondary education. But there are many important indicators of success besides grades. We conceptualized academic success at postsecondary as grade point average, acquisition of knowledge and skills, and overall satisfaction and examined how each conceptualization was predicted by student characteristics (perceived academic ability and drive to achieve) and experiences (academic and social integration). Using a 1-year longitudinal design, we found that perceived academic ability had a positive direct effect on grade point average and acquisition of knowledge and skills but not satisfaction, whereas drive had no direct relationships with the outcomes. Academic integration positively predicted all three indicators of success grades, but social integration was not associated with grades. Indirect effects were also noted. Our discussion highlights actions that postsecondary institutions can take to support students and considers how researchers should conceptualize student success. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Helping junior high and high school students remain interested in science increases the chance that they will pursue careers in science. However, there are many different ways to trigger or sustain interest. Utility-value writing assignments represent a type of motivation intervention that has consistently demonstrated a positive effect on students' interest and performance in science. In this paper, we describe expectancy-value theory as the framework giving rise to utility-value interventions and review evidence of the effectiveness of the intervention. Then we provide educators with concrete steps for writing and scoring utility-value writing assignments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Alberta Journal of Educational Research is the property of Alberta Journal of Educational Research and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)