Nurturing Motivational Regulation in University Students: Findings From Two Successive Quasi-Experiments

• In Event: Strategies and Interventions for College Student Success

Abstract

Although there is considerable evidence on the effects of self-regulation of motivation, little is known about its training. Therefore, it was examined whether university students’ motivational regulation can be improved by addressing three key aspects: frequency, situation-specific fit and application quality of motivational regulation strategy use. Two quasi-experiments with N = 135 and N = 129 students with three measuring occasions were conducted. Study 1 indicated that the implemented training approach improved frequency and situation-specific fit of motivational regulation strategy use. Study 2 replicated that the (refined) training approach is able to improve situation-specific fit. Furthermore, the refined approach was able to foster application quality and also use of cognitive and metacognitive learning strategies, effort, subjective well-being and procrastination.

Authors

• Markus Dresel, University of Augsburg

• Nicole Dorothea Eckerlein, Augsburg University

• Gabriele Steuer, University of Bielefeld