Poster #8 - Self-Concept, Motivational Calibration, and Biology Performance of College Students

• In Event: 77.059 - MTCC Tuesday Poster Session 18
  In Poster Session: 77.059-1 - Exploring Motivational Constructs in Authentic Academic Settings

Abstract

Motivational calibration is accuracy of one’s beliefs about their competences in academic performance. Previous studies on motivational calibration mainly focus on self-efficacy. Some studies suggest that motivational overcalibration might lead to more persistence in studying and better performance. Other studies suggest motivational overcalibration could result in less effort in learning and underachievement. We examined the effects of self-concept calibration on biology performance through regression of biology final exam scores on self-concept calibration (residuals between self-concept and prior achievement). Participants were 189 undergraduate students and data was gathered across three semesters. The results suggest that biology self-concept overcalibration positively predicated higher biology achievement (β = .22 to .41, p < .05). In other words, biology self-concept calibration may influence students’ biology achievement.

Author

• Mingya Huang, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign