In the current longitudinal study, we investigated the structure of students' (N = 1,469) specific growth constructs and their broader growth orientation using a bifactor exploratory structural equation model. We also examined the extent to which each of these components was associated with gains in students' academic and nonacademic outcomes…

Background: Modelling academic self-concept through second-order factors or bifactor structures is an important issue with substantive and practical implications; besides, the bifactor model has not been analysed with a Chinese sample and cross-cultural studies in the academic self-concept are scarce. Likewise, latent structure validity evidence…

This study is a substantive-methodological synergy in which exploratory structural equation modeling is applied to investigate the factor structure of multidimensional self-concept instruments. On the basis of a sample of German students (N = 1958) who completed the Self-Description Questionnaire I and the Self-Perception Profile for Children, the…

Informal science learning has been found to have effects on students' science learning. Through the use of secondary data from a national assessment of 7410 middle school students in China, this study explores the relationship among five types of extracurricular science activities, learning interests, academic self-concept, and science…

In today's world, teaching and learning processes inevitably involve the application of information and communication technology (ICT). It seems reasonable to expect personal attributes such as cognitive playfulness to be associated with consistent application of ICT. Using survey responses from Singapore students in a teacher education programme…

Used analysis of covariance structures to test for the equivalence of a well-known measuring instrument across two culturally diverse groups, exploring three possible determinants of the resulting nonvariance. Example data comprised item responses to the four nonacademic subscales of the Self Description Questionnaire for Australian and Nigerian…