Self-determination theory (SDT) proposes to explain the relations between motivational states and human development. In education, a central tenet of the theory is that experiencing autonomous motivation in school activities (i.e., genuine pleasure and enjoyment) fosters optimal learning processes, whereas experiencing controlled motivation (i.e.,…

Our study examined young children's pre-academic and social skills in relation to parental locus of control and children's behaviours of ADHD. The participants were parents of 1,502 children from four Chinese kindergartens (M[subscript age] = 4.59, SD = 0.93; Girls: 51.40%). Data on six domains of children's pre-academic and social skills,…

This study aimed to investigate the reliability and validity of the Childhood Career Development Scale (CCDS) on a sample of 1018 Iranian elementary school students. The Confirmatory factor analysis revealed that the original eight-factor model was of a good fit. Measurement invariance analyses indicated equivalence across gender and grade. A…

We evaluated a curriculum that focused on bolstering grit and locus of control in seventh grade students at a school in upstate New York. The intervention included lessons aimed at building a growth mindset and determination, along with writing projects and collaborative work. A pre-post design was utilized such that surveys measuring grit and…

This paper presents the findings of an empirical research project, designed with a combination of qualitative and quantitative methodology. Our goal was to apply Wiener attribution theory with a mathematics-specific pedagogical focus as a lens for analysing reflections. Our database consists of the prospective teachers' reflections on…

Over the past fifty years, extensive research has examined the influence of causal attributions on cognitions, emotions, and behaviours in educational contexts. However, these studies often relied on inferences about dimensional properties of attributions, and not on students' perceptions of them. This study innovates by directly assessing these…

This study investigated links between motivations for social withdrawal, time spent alone, and indices of internalizing difficulties. Participants were 169 (n = 96 girls) children and early adolescents aged 8-14 years (M[subscript age] = 10.82, SD = 1.78). Children completed self-report measures of motivations for social withdrawal (shyness,…

Adolescence is a period that plays a crucial role in career development. Understanding the psychological structures associated with a career can help to better understand adolescents' career development. The aim of this study was to examine the mediating role of career and talent development self-efficacy in the relationship between adolescents'…

Aims: To determine the associations between COVID-19 school closures and school readiness skills for Chinese kindergarteners. Design: We utilized the natural experimental condition created by local COVID-19 outbreaks in 2022 (Study 1) to compare school readiness skills of children whose kindergartens were closed for 5 months (Group 1) with…

There is a strong belief among environmental and sustainability educators and researchers that meaningful education can benefit from participatory approaches. Participation in decision-making, community cooperation, and interaction, development of team communication, solidarity and real action resulting in real outcomes, are the qualities that…

In this paper, the authors consider how Carol Dweck's concept of growth mindset has been misconceptualised. They explore the proposition that agency is an important aspect of growth mindset and that the effects of hard work by children is reduced when agency is limited. They draw on qualitative data from 84 interviews with 23 participant children…

This interview study employs a distributed leadership perspective to explore three coach-principal dyads' perspectives on: (1) the strategies coaches use to gain entry to teachers' classrooms; (2) the barriers that impede coaches' access; and (3) the supports that facilitate coaches' access. Results indicate that the principals were largely…

The article presents findings from a Czech environmental literacy survey conducted in 2020 on a sample of 6th (N = 3773), 8th (N = 21518), and 9th graders (N = 4368). Specifically, the effect of environmental and sustainability education (ESE) as well as the effect of gender and age on environmental knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, place attachment,…

Academic optimism has an essential role in the adjustment of students in school. This study aimed to examine a model of academic optimism formed from democratic parenting, school climate, internal locus of control, and students' self-concept. This a cross-sectional non-experimental design research design involved 335 Junior High School students in…

Empowerment is often considered to be a central goal in outdoor education and environmental education. To develop student empowerment, a frequent recommendation is for the leaders of outdoor environmental education programs to provide students with a high level of autonomy through an emancipatory approach, by involving them in the decision-making…