Exploring Motivation Variables as Predictors of Academic Assessment Outcomes Among Junior Secondary School Students in Aba Education Zone, Abia State (Published)
This study explores how motivation variables predict academic assessment outcomes among junior secondary school students in Aba Education Zone, Nigeria. Using a correlational design, 531 students were sampled through a multi-stage approach. Data were collected via the Motivation and Academic Assessment Outcome Questionnaire (MAAOQ), with a reliability coefficient of 0.869. Regression analysis showed that academic self-efficacy (β = .128, p < .05), self-regulation (β = .102, p < .05), and extrinsic motivation (β = .112, p < .05) significantly predicted academic outcomes, while intrinsic motivation (β = .008, p > .05) did not. Motivation variables explained 2.1% of the variance (R² = .021, p < .05), with self-efficacy as the strongest predictor. The study highlights the importance of self-efficacy, self-regulation, and extrinsic motivation in academic success and recommends fostering these skills while balancing intrinsic and extrinsic motivation to improve student assessment outcomes.
Keywords: Academic assessment outcomes, Extrinsic Motivation, Intrinsic Motivation, Self-Efficacy, self-regulation
Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence and Suicidal Tendencies, Among Undergraduates Students of University of Benin (Published)
This study examined the interplay between emotional intelligence and suicidal tendencies among undergraduates of University of Benin. A non-experimental research design was employed, namely a correlational survey research design. Data were collected from a sample size of 396, utilizing the proportional sampling technique. The instrument used was a structured questionnaire, which comprised of two sections, section A was used for collecting demographic characteristics of the respondents and sections B and C was used for testing variables of interest which were tested. Reliability test was conducted by employing Cronbach’s alpha, which yielded a coefficient alpha value of 0.85. Findings showed that there was no significant relationship between emotional intelligence and suicidal tendencies among undergraduates @ r=0.014, p=0.785. The study also revealed no relationship between self-awareness and suicidal tendencies @ r= 0.003 but however revealed a weak direct relationship between self-regulation and suicidal tendencies @ r= 0.072, p= 0.154. The study therefore recommended, among others, that major stakeholders such as school administrators, lecturers and parents should keep in mind that the students are vulnerable to suicidal tendencies and as such should show more understanding towards students’ plight and be less judgmental.
Keywords: Emotional Intelligence, Self-Awareness, negative emotions, self-regulation, suicidal tendencies, university undergraduates
Exploring Self-Regulated Writing Process of EFL Learners (Published)
This study explored the self-regulated writing process of EFL learners in the context of China. Drawing upon the writing diaries written by 109 Chinese university EFL learners, the study examined how Chinese EFL learners self-regulated their writing in the pre-, while-, and post- writing phases. The findings showed that the learners went through ten processes (i.e., goal setting, knowledge activation, strategic planning, environmental preparation, organizing ideas and structures, preparing for good mental states, monitoring, controlling, reflection, and reaction) in the three writing phases to self-regulate not only their cognition, but also their behaviours, and the learning context/environment. Subprocesses of each of the ten processes were also identified. This study expanded self-regulated learning theory and L2 writing theory and contributed to a better understanding of how EFL learners learn to write. It is expected to inform L2 writing teaching, and to shed light on future L2 writing research.
Keywords: EFL writing, self-regulated writing, self-regulation, writing process