Examines the relation between children's mastery motivation, self-assessment of performance, and task-related, help-seeking behavior during task performance. (PCB)

Peer relations, academic competence, and help-seeking behaviors of Black elementary school children were examined. Results indicated that, in comparison to boys, girls were preferred more as helpers, were perceived to be more academically competent, and sought help from peers more often. The distribution of boys and girls across different peer…

This study examined help-seeking and achievement behavior in elementary shool girls in a problem-solving situation. Classified as high or low in mastery orientation on the basis of their scores on a subset of items on the Intellectual Achievement Responsibility Scale, 40 fourth and sixth grade girls participated in the study. Children's task…

The study examined relationships between children's mastery motivation, self-assessment of performance, and task-related help-seeking behavior during task performance. A total of 79 average-achieving black elementary school students in the third- and fifth-grades, who varied in mastery motivation, performed a multi-trial verbal task and were given…

Findings of two experiments involving third and fifth graders indicated that subjects' confidence in the correctness of their solutions to verbal tasks influenced the frequency and type of help they sought. Frequency and type of help sought varied with self-assessments for older children more than younger. (RH)

Two experiments investigated the role of children's assessments of their performance on their decisions to seek help and their preferences for different types of assistance. Blocked into low and high verbal skill groups, participants in study 1 were 84 middle-class third- and fifth-grade elementary school students. Subjects performed a multi-trial…

Social-cognitive, cognitive-motivational, and situational factors influencing children's effectiveness in using adults and other children as learning resources (help-seeking) are considered. Effective help-seeking can meet the dual developmental needs of minority students, specifically African-Americans, for autonomy and social support. (SLD)