Role of motivational and self-regulatory processes on academic and social functioning of lower secondary school students

Abstract

In a knowledge-based economy, an effective learner takes greater self-direction, independence and initiative in the learning process and, thus is required to draw on personal motivational resources to manage and perform. Such strategic learning is particularly critical at the secondary school level when the syllabi are more cognitively demanding and regulation of one's behaviour towards effective learning is increasingly called upon. This paper therefore seeks to examine the relationships between prior achievement, academic and social self-regulation, and students' self-beliefs from the survey findings of 540 lower secondary school students in Singapore.