Cognitive and Motivational Mediators of Behavioral Engagement and Reading Comprehension

• In Event: Poster Session 9
  In Poster Session: Learning and Motivation in Education

Abstract

The current study explored mediators of the relationship between behavioral engagement and reading comprehension. Our sample comprised 1188 seventh-grade students who completed measures of reading comprehension, behavioral engagement, intrinsic motivation, self-efficacy, inferencing, and topic knowledge. We found that one motivational variable, self-efficacy, and one cognitive variable, topic knowledge, were mediators of the relationship between behavioral engagement and reading comprehension when controlling for SES, ethnicity, and gender. Intrinsic motivation and inferencing were not mediators. Findings suggest that students’ behavioral engagement in reading may lead to higher reading achievement through both increased confidence and greater knowledge of the reading topic.

Authors

• Katherine Marie Muenks, University of Maryland

• John T. Guthrie, University of Maryland