Behavioral Engagement in Early Elementary School: Testing Inter- and Intra-Individual Processes Accounting for Its Stability (Poster 31)

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Wednesday 4:20 p.m.
  In Poster Session: Motivation, Emotion, and Engagement Across Contexts

Abstract

The first years of formal schooling are important for behavioral engagement (BE), which refers to a student’s active involvement in class. While it is considered an intraindividual process, studies have not disentangled inter- and intraindividual processes that underly its longitudinal stability. This study compares interindividual and intraindividual processes of BE from kindergarten to 3rd grade (N=17 078) from the ECLS-K:2011 study. Both processes were compared using an autoregressive panel model (APM) and a random intercept APM. Results showed that BE was largely accounted for by a stable, trait-like component accounting for interindividual differences and weak predictive links at the intraindividual process. The discussion addresses the importance of distinguishing intra- and interindividual processes to better understand the nature of BE.

Authors

• Cléo Thibert-Dagenais, Université Laval

• André Plamondon, Université Laval

• Catherine F. Ratelle, Université Laval