Pub Date : 2025-08-01Epub Date: 2025-05-10DOI: 10.1016/j.lmot.2025.102138
Qunai Xu , Yijia Liu , Xue Li
This study explores how AI-driven personalized feedback influences goal achievement, self- efficacy, and learning engagement in Chinese college students through a self-determination theory lens. The participants, 1079 Chinese college students (56.2 % female, 43.8 % male; mean age = 21.4), including undergraduates, graduates, and PhD students, came from various academic disciplines. The study examines how personalized AI feedback impacts students’ motivation and academic performance. Data were collected via a questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS (version 27) and AMOS (version 24), employing descriptive statistics, correlation, regression analysis, and structural equation modeling (SEM) to investigate relationships among variables. The results reveal significant positive relationships between AI-driven personalized feedback and students’ goal achievement, academic self-efficacy, and learning engagement. AI feedback enhances students’ clarity of goals, boosts their confidence, and increases their involvement in learning by providing adaptive, personalized support. It fosters a sense of mastery and control, improving both goal achievement and self-efficacy, which subsequently enhances engagement. The study finds that AI-driven feedback is a strong predictor of these outcomes, with more personalized feedback leading to higher levels of motivation, engagement, and confidence. This research underscores the importance of AI-driven personalized feedback in supporting students’ academic success and intrinsic motivation.
{"title":"Unlocking student potential: How AI-driven personalized feedback shapes goal achievement, self-efficacy, and learning engagement through a self-determination lens","authors":"Qunai Xu , Yijia Liu , Xue Li","doi":"10.1016/j.lmot.2025.102138","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.lmot.2025.102138","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study explores how AI-driven personalized feedback influences goal achievement, self- efficacy, and learning engagement in Chinese college students through a self-determination theory lens. The participants, 1079 Chinese college students (56.2 % female, 43.8 % male; mean age = 21.4), including undergraduates, graduates, and PhD students, came from various academic disciplines. The study examines how personalized AI feedback impacts students’ motivation and academic performance. Data were collected via a questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS (version 27) and AMOS (version 24), employing descriptive statistics, correlation, regression analysis, and structural equation modeling (SEM) to investigate relationships among variables. The results reveal significant positive relationships between AI-driven personalized feedback and students’ goal achievement, academic self-efficacy, and learning engagement. AI feedback enhances students’ clarity of goals, boosts their confidence, and increases their involvement in learning by providing adaptive, personalized support. It fosters a sense of mastery and control, improving both goal achievement and self-efficacy, which subsequently enhances engagement. The study finds that AI-driven feedback is a strong predictor of these outcomes, with more personalized feedback leading to higher levels of motivation, engagement, and confidence. This research underscores the importance of AI-driven personalized feedback in supporting students’ academic success and intrinsic motivation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47305,"journal":{"name":"Learning and Motivation","volume":"91 ","pages":"Article 102138"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143929627","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-01Epub Date: 2025-07-31DOI: 10.1016/j.lmot.2025.102165
Shujiao Chen
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape educational practices, higher education institutions are incorporating AI tools to modernize instructional techniques and boost learner success. This paradigm shift has highlighted the importance of engagement and psychological well-being (PWB) in academic research, addressing the challenges learners encounter in AI-enhanced environments. Both external factors, like teacher support, and internal factors, such as motivation, play crucial roles in the learning process. Guided by Self-determination theory (SDT), this study seeks to explore the influence of teacher support on promoting learner engagement and PWB, considering the possible mediating effects of learners’ motivation in AI-based contexts. For this purpose, data were gathered from 442 international overseas students across various academic disciplines in Chinese colleges, utilizing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to assess the measurement model and conducting multiple regression analyses. The results indicate that perceived teacher support positively predicts both engagement and PWB, with motivation serving as a significant mediating variable. This finding suggests that motivation acts as a psychological bridge between external instructional support and internal learning experiences in AI contexts. Moreover, AI-driven features—such as personalized prompts and adaptive feedback—may amplify or complement traditional sources of support, offering new pathways for student empowerment. This study contributes to the literature by contextualizing SDT within AI-mediated education and demonstrating how hybrid support systems—human and algorithmic—shape learner outcomes. Implications for instructional design and teacher training are discussed, including the need to align emotional support strategies with AI analytics to personalize learning and foster positive academic experiences.
{"title":"Perceived teacher support on international students’ engagement and psychological well-being in AI-based learning: The mediating role of motivation through the lens of self-determination theory","authors":"Shujiao Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.lmot.2025.102165","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.lmot.2025.102165","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape educational practices, higher education institutions are incorporating AI tools to modernize instructional techniques and boost learner success. This paradigm shift has highlighted the importance of engagement and psychological well-being (PWB) in academic research, addressing the challenges learners encounter in AI-enhanced environments. Both external factors, like teacher support, and internal factors, such as motivation, play crucial roles in the learning process. Guided by Self-determination theory (SDT), this study seeks to explore the influence of teacher support on promoting learner engagement and PWB, considering the possible mediating effects of learners’ motivation in AI-based contexts. For this purpose, data were gathered from 442 international overseas students across various academic disciplines in Chinese colleges, utilizing Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to assess the measurement model and conducting multiple regression analyses. The results indicate that perceived teacher support positively predicts both engagement and PWB, with motivation serving as a significant mediating variable. This finding suggests that motivation acts as a psychological bridge between external instructional support and internal learning experiences in AI contexts. Moreover, AI-driven features—such as personalized prompts and adaptive feedback—may amplify or complement traditional sources of support, offering new pathways for student empowerment. This study contributes to the literature by contextualizing SDT within AI-mediated education and demonstrating how hybrid support systems—human and algorithmic—shape learner outcomes. Implications for instructional design and teacher training are discussed, including the need to align emotional support strategies with AI analytics to personalize learning and foster positive academic experiences.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47305,"journal":{"name":"Learning and Motivation","volume":"91 ","pages":"Article 102165"},"PeriodicalIF":1.8,"publicationDate":"2025-08-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144738988","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-05-01Epub Date: 2025-02-26DOI: 10.1016/j.lmot.2025.102113
Liang Yin , Jalil Fathi
With the increasing popularity of online language exchange platforms, understanding the motivational dynamics that drive learners' engagement and persistence in these informal learning environments is crucial. This study explores how the satisfaction of basic psychological needs—autonomy, competence, and relatedness—impacts the motivation of Chinese learners of English participating in online language exchange platforms, specifically Tandem and HelloTalk. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory (SDT), the research employed a quantitative design involving 120 Chinese learners of English. Participants completed measures assessing motivation, psychological needs satisfaction, and engagement with the platforms. Data analysis, including descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, multiple regression, and moderation analysis, revealed that autonomy and competence were the strongest predictors of intrinsic motivation, while relatedness had a more significant impact on extrinsic motivation. Amotivation was negatively correlated with autonomy and competence, highlighting the importance of satisfying these needs to prevent disengagement. Additionally, platform usage frequency moderated the relationship between autonomy and intrinsic motivation, amplifying its effects with increased usage. These findings underscore the critical role of basic psychological needs in shaping motivation in informal, peer-to-peer language learning contexts. The study suggests that online language exchange platforms can be optimized by incorporating features that support learners' needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness, such as personalized learning paths, opportunities for social interaction, and effective feedback mechanisms. These findings offer valuable insights for educators and platform designers seeking to enhance learner motivation and promote successful language learning experiences in online environments.
{"title":"Exploring the motivational dynamics of chinese learners on tandem and hellotalk: A self-determination theory perspective","authors":"Liang Yin , Jalil Fathi","doi":"10.1016/j.lmot.2025.102113","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.lmot.2025.102113","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>With the increasing popularity of online language exchange platforms, understanding the motivational dynamics that drive learners' engagement and persistence in these informal learning environments is crucial. This study explores how the satisfaction of basic psychological needs—autonomy, competence, and relatedness—impacts the motivation of Chinese learners of English participating in online language exchange platforms, specifically Tandem and HelloTalk. Grounded in Self-Determination Theory (SDT), the research employed a quantitative design involving 120 Chinese learners of English. Participants completed measures assessing motivation, psychological needs satisfaction, and engagement with the platforms. Data analysis, including descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, multiple regression, and moderation analysis, revealed that autonomy and competence were the strongest predictors of intrinsic motivation, while relatedness had a more significant impact on extrinsic motivation. Amotivation was negatively correlated with autonomy and competence, highlighting the importance of satisfying these needs to prevent disengagement. Additionally, platform usage frequency moderated the relationship between autonomy and intrinsic motivation, amplifying its effects with increased usage. These findings underscore the critical role of basic psychological needs in shaping motivation in informal, peer-to-peer language learning contexts. The study suggests that online language exchange platforms can be optimized by incorporating features that support learners' needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness, such as personalized learning paths, opportunities for social interaction, and effective feedback mechanisms. These findings offer valuable insights for educators and platform designers seeking to enhance learner motivation and promote successful language learning experiences in online environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47305,"journal":{"name":"Learning and Motivation","volume":"90 ","pages":"Article 102113"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143488993","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-05-01Epub Date: 2025-04-24DOI: 10.1016/j.lmot.2025.102135
Diwen Dong
The increasing integration of digital media in educational settings has generated considerable interest in exploring its effects on learners' engagement, motivation, and digital self-efficacy, particularly within extracurricular learning activities (ELAs). Understanding how these constructs interact in extracurricular settings is crucial. This research, anchored in Self-Determination Theory (SDT), aimed to investigate the connection between engagement with digital media and motivation in the ELAs, emphasizing the mediating function of digital self-efficacy in China. Utilizing a quantitative research methodology, data collected from 286 secondary school students through validated survey instruments that measured their engagement with digital media, digital self-efficacy, and online learning motivation. The study implemented Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to analyze the interrelations among these constructs. Results indicated a strong positive relationship between digital media engagement and motivation for online learning, suggesting that the students who actively utilize digital tools tend to demonstrate greater motivation in the ELAs. Additionally, a significant association exists between digital media engagement and digital self-efficacy, indicating that regular interaction with digital platforms enhances learners’ self-confidence regarding their ability to navigate these environments efficiently. Crucially, digital self-efficacy acts as a mediator between digital media engagement and motivation, underscoring the critical role of perceived competence in maintaining student motivation in technology-enhanced learning settings. These results carry practical implications for educators, policymakers, and curriculum developers. Specifically, they stress the importance of creating interventions that enhance digital self-efficacy, such as targeted training programs and supportive digital learning environments, ultimately amplifying learners’ engagement and their motivation in their learning experiences.
{"title":"Self-determination theory perspectives on the influence of digital learning engagement on motivation in extracurricular learning activities: Considering the mediating role of digital self-efficacy","authors":"Diwen Dong","doi":"10.1016/j.lmot.2025.102135","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.lmot.2025.102135","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The increasing integration of digital media in educational settings has generated considerable interest in exploring its effects on learners' engagement, motivation, and digital self-efficacy, particularly within extracurricular learning activities (ELAs). Understanding how these constructs interact in extracurricular settings is crucial. This research, anchored in Self-Determination Theory (SDT), aimed to investigate the connection between engagement with digital media and motivation in the ELAs, emphasizing the mediating function of digital self-efficacy in China. Utilizing a quantitative research methodology, data collected from 286 secondary school students through validated survey instruments that measured their engagement with digital media, digital self-efficacy, and online learning motivation. The study implemented Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) to analyze the interrelations among these constructs. Results indicated a strong positive relationship between digital media engagement and motivation for online learning, suggesting that the students who actively utilize digital tools tend to demonstrate greater motivation in the ELAs. Additionally, a significant association exists between digital media engagement and digital self-efficacy, indicating that regular interaction with digital platforms enhances learners’ self-confidence regarding their ability to navigate these environments efficiently. Crucially, digital self-efficacy acts as a mediator between digital media engagement and motivation, underscoring the critical role of perceived competence in maintaining student motivation in technology-enhanced learning settings. These results carry practical implications for educators, policymakers, and curriculum developers. Specifically, they stress the importance of creating interventions that enhance digital self-efficacy, such as targeted training programs and supportive digital learning environments, ultimately amplifying learners’ engagement and their motivation in their learning experiences.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47305,"journal":{"name":"Learning and Motivation","volume":"90 ","pages":"Article 102135"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143868223","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-05-01Epub Date: 2025-03-11DOI: 10.1016/j.lmot.2025.102112
Nathaniel C. Rice, Todd M. Myers
Pretraining refers to events or conditions explicitly arranged prior to the learner (e.g., student, employee) experiencing specific instruction within the learning environment (i.e., training). Such pretraining can occur inside or outside of the specific learning environment, but by definition must precede the onset of training. Pretraining can modify the rate and quality of early learning and the final performance levels attained. Within experimental psychology, laboratories often include pretraining to hasten acquisition, but few empirical studies support this practice. Therefore, in the present study, four distinct levels of pretraining were examined by randomly assigning 284 naïve rats into groups: no training, chamber acclimation, pellets only, or magazine training. By manipulating experience with the chamber, food pellets, and stimuli associated with pellet delivery, direct assessments were made of pretraining on autoshaped lever press acquisition and incremental progress through a fixed order of common (ratio and interval) schedules of reinforcement. Pretraining affected acquisition, and the several measures of learning corroborated the presumed benefits of magazine training. Notably, simple pre-exposure to the chamber (both with pellets and without pellets in the magazine) also promoted acquisition compared to the no-training group. Nevertheless, despite clear benefits upon acquisition in early sessions, comparable levels of performance developed as training progressed, with the exception of higher lever-pressing rates from the magazine-training group compared to the pellets-only and chamber-acclimation groups. Magazine training hastened operant acquisition, but the overall benefit was somewhat diminutive and short-lived, and the practical value of these pretraining procedures on subsequent operant performance appears limited.
{"title":"The impact of pretraining on autoshaping and operant acquisition in rats is significant but transient","authors":"Nathaniel C. Rice, Todd M. Myers","doi":"10.1016/j.lmot.2025.102112","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.lmot.2025.102112","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pretraining refers to events or conditions explicitly arranged prior to the learner (e.g., student, employee) experiencing specific instruction within the learning environment (i.e., training). Such pretraining can occur inside or outside of the specific learning environment, but by definition must precede the onset of training. Pretraining can modify the rate and quality of early learning and the final performance levels attained. Within experimental psychology, laboratories often include pretraining to hasten acquisition, but few empirical studies support this practice. Therefore, in the present study, four distinct levels of pretraining were examined by randomly assigning 284 naïve rats into groups: no training, chamber acclimation, pellets only, or magazine training. By manipulating experience with the chamber, food pellets, and stimuli associated with pellet delivery, direct assessments were made of pretraining on autoshaped lever press acquisition and incremental progress through a fixed order of common (ratio and interval) schedules of reinforcement. Pretraining affected acquisition, and the several measures of learning corroborated the presumed benefits of magazine training. Notably, simple pre-exposure to the chamber (both with pellets and without pellets in the magazine) also promoted acquisition compared to the no-training group. Nevertheless, despite clear benefits upon acquisition in early sessions, comparable levels of performance developed as training progressed, with the exception of higher lever-pressing rates from the magazine-training group compared to the pellets-only and chamber-acclimation groups. Magazine training hastened operant acquisition, but the overall benefit was somewhat diminutive and short-lived, and the practical value of these pretraining procedures on subsequent operant performance appears limited.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47305,"journal":{"name":"Learning and Motivation","volume":"90 ","pages":"Article 102112"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143592589","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Scheduling styles include the clock-time style, which is based on time, and the event-time style, which is based on progress. Prior research suggested that the role of scheduling style in academic goal pursuit would be important. This study used two surveys to examine the motivations that predict scheduling styles in pursuing academic goals. For Part 1, a cross-sectional survey explored academic goal-pursuit among high school students. Part 2 involved a short-term longitudinal survey to examine the predictive relationships among scheduling style, academic motivation, and basic psychological need satisfaction in the academic domain. We found that the identified regulation predicted event-time style, that event-time style predicted the autonomy need satisfaction. Finally, we deliberated on the potential significance of event-time orientation in academic goal pursuit.
{"title":"Which academic motivations predict scheduling styles: Academic goal pursuit situations in Japanese high school students","authors":"Masato Nagamine , Li Tang , Shuhei Miwa , Ryo Kainuma , Miki Toyama","doi":"10.1016/j.lmot.2025.102102","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.lmot.2025.102102","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Scheduling styles include the clock-time style, which is based on time, and the event-time style, which is based on progress. Prior research suggested that the role of scheduling style in academic goal pursuit would be important. This study used two surveys to examine the motivations that predict scheduling styles in pursuing academic goals. For Part 1, a cross-sectional survey explored academic goal-pursuit among high school students. Part 2 involved a short-term longitudinal survey to examine the predictive relationships among scheduling style, academic motivation, and basic psychological need satisfaction in the academic domain. We found that the identified regulation predicted event-time style, that event-time style predicted the autonomy need satisfaction. Finally, we deliberated on the potential significance of event-time orientation in academic goal pursuit.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47305,"journal":{"name":"Learning and Motivation","volume":"90 ","pages":"Article 102102"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143377035","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-05-01Epub Date: 2025-03-20DOI: 10.1016/j.lmot.2025.102121
Xuefei Li , Wael Matar Hasan Alharbi
This research aimed at exploring the impact of digital feedback, self-efficacy, and autonomy on the motivation and general English performance of Chinese EFL learners in online courses. The study recruited a total of 225 participants, comprising 112 males and 113 females, purposefully selected and distributed among nine distinct groups: personalized feedback group (PFG, n = 25), generic feedback group (GFG, n = 25), no feedback group (NFG, n = 25), high self-efficacy group (HSG, n = 25), medium self-efficacy group (MSG, n = 25), low self-efficacy group (LSG, n = 25), high autonomy group (HAG, n = 25), medium autonomy group (MAG), and low autonomy group (LAG, n = 25). All groups completed a validated motivation questionnaire and a general English performance test to establish their baseline levels before the intervention. Subsequently, each group underwent specific treatments throughout the study, followed by posttests measuring changes in motivation and English performance. The results of MANOVA indicated that the PFG significantly outperformed both the GFG and NFG as to motivation and general English performance. Similarly, the HAG achieved better outcomes than the MAG and LAG across both measures, while the HSG exceeded the MSG and LSG, demonstrating the most substantial mean differences in motivation and performance. The study highlights the critical role of personalized digital feedback, heightened self-efficacy, and increased autonomy in fostering motivation and enhancing English proficiency within virtual learning environments. Consequently, this study brings into focus that incorporating these elements into online EFL education could substantially improve EFL learners’ motivation and learning achievements.
本研究旨在探讨数字反馈、自我效能感和自主性对中国在线英语学习者学习动机和整体英语表现的影响。研究总共招募了225名参与者,包括112名男性和113名女性,有目的地选择和分布在9个不同的组:个性化的反馈集团(PFG n = 25),通用反馈集团(GFG n = 25),没有反馈集团(NFG n = 25),高自我效能感组(HSG集团)n = 25)中自我效能感组(味精,n = 25),低自我效能感组(汉莎天厨n = 25),高自治组织(女巫,n = 25),介质自治组织(MAG)和低自治组织(滞后,n = 25)。所有小组都完成了一份有效的动机问卷和一项普通英语表现测试,以确定干预前的基线水平。随后,每组在整个研究过程中都接受了特定的治疗,随后进行了测试,测量动机和英语表现的变化。方差分析结果表明,在动机和一般英语表现方面,PFG显著优于GFG和NFG。同样,在两项测量中,HAG比MAG和LAG取得了更好的结果,而HSG超过MSG和LSG,显示出动机和表现上最显著的平均差异。该研究强调了在虚拟学习环境中,个性化数字反馈、提高自我效能和增强自主性在培养动机和提高英语水平方面的关键作用。因此,本研究认为,将这些因素纳入在线英语教育可以大大提高英语学习者的学习动机和学习成绩。
{"title":"Impact of digital feedback, self-efficacy, and autonomy on motivation and general english performance in online courses","authors":"Xuefei Li , Wael Matar Hasan Alharbi","doi":"10.1016/j.lmot.2025.102121","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.lmot.2025.102121","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This research aimed at exploring the impact of digital feedback, self-efficacy, and autonomy on the motivation and general English performance of Chinese EFL learners in online courses. The study recruited a total of 225 participants, comprising 112 males and 113 females, purposefully selected and distributed among nine distinct groups: personalized feedback group (PFG, n = 25), generic feedback group (GFG, n = 25), no feedback group (NFG, n = 25), high self-efficacy group (HSG, n = 25), medium self-efficacy group (MSG, n = 25), low self-efficacy group (LSG, n = 25), high autonomy group (HAG, n = 25), medium autonomy group (MAG), and low autonomy group (LAG, n = 25). All groups completed a validated motivation questionnaire and a general English performance test to establish their baseline levels before the intervention. Subsequently, each group underwent specific treatments throughout the study, followed by posttests measuring changes in motivation and English performance. The results of MANOVA indicated that the PFG significantly outperformed both the GFG and NFG as to motivation and general English performance. Similarly, the HAG achieved better outcomes than the MAG and LAG across both measures, while the HSG exceeded the MSG and LSG, demonstrating the most substantial mean differences in motivation and performance. The study highlights the critical role of personalized digital feedback, heightened self-efficacy, and increased autonomy in fostering motivation and enhancing English proficiency within virtual learning environments. Consequently, this study brings into focus that incorporating these elements into online EFL education could substantially improve EFL learners’ motivation and learning achievements.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47305,"journal":{"name":"Learning and Motivation","volume":"90 ","pages":"Article 102121"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143687744","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-05-01Epub Date: 2025-03-24DOI: 10.1016/j.lmot.2025.102123
Yushu Pan , Xingyu Shao , Goodarz Shakibaei
Digital game-based learning (DGBL) has increasingly attracted scholarly attention for its potential to enhance learners’ related constructs across diverse educational contexts. While its prominence grows, few studies have systematically examined its impact on English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners’ social collaboration, problem-solving skills, and motivation, particularly through the lenses of Expectancy-Value Theory and Flow Theory in the Chinese context. To address this research gap, the present study explored the effects of the DGBL on Chinese EFL learners’ social collaboration, problem-solving skills, and motivation using a mixed-methods approach. The participants including 191 male and female students were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (EG), which engaged in the DGBL activities, or a control group (CG), which followed traditional instruction. Data were collected via pre- and post-intervention questionnaires assessing social collaboration, problem-solving skills, and motivation, with semi-structured interviews providing deeper insights into students’ perceptions. Findings revealed that the EG significantly outperformed the CG in all measured domains. Quantitative results indicated substantial gains in social collaboration, problem-solving skills, and motivation, while qualitative data underscored the participants’ positive views of DGBL’s effectiveness. These results suggest that DGBL is a potent tool for enhancing both cognitive and social dimensions of EFL learning. By fostering an interactive, learner-centered environment, the DGBL offers EFL teachers and stakeholders valuable opportunities to strengthen students’ social, cognitive, and affective development.
{"title":"Influence of digital game-based learning on social collaboration, problem-solving skills, and motivation: An integrative approach of expectancy-value theory and flow theory","authors":"Yushu Pan , Xingyu Shao , Goodarz Shakibaei","doi":"10.1016/j.lmot.2025.102123","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.lmot.2025.102123","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Digital game-based learning (DGBL) has increasingly attracted scholarly attention for its potential to enhance learners’ related constructs across diverse educational contexts. While its prominence grows, few studies have systematically examined its impact on English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners’ social collaboration, problem-solving skills, and motivation, particularly through the lenses of Expectancy-Value Theory and Flow Theory in the Chinese context. To address this research gap, the present study explored the effects of the DGBL on Chinese EFL learners’ social collaboration, problem-solving skills, and motivation using a mixed-methods approach. The participants including 191 male and female students were randomly assigned to either an experimental group (EG), which engaged in the DGBL activities, or a control group (CG), which followed traditional instruction. Data were collected via pre- and post-intervention questionnaires assessing social collaboration, problem-solving skills, and motivation, with semi-structured interviews providing deeper insights into students’ perceptions. Findings revealed that the EG significantly outperformed the CG in all measured domains. Quantitative results indicated substantial gains in social collaboration, problem-solving skills, and motivation, while qualitative data underscored the participants’ positive views of DGBL’s effectiveness. These results suggest that DGBL is a potent tool for enhancing both cognitive and social dimensions of EFL learning. By fostering an interactive, learner-centered environment, the DGBL offers EFL teachers and stakeholders valuable opportunities to strengthen students’ social, cognitive, and affective development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47305,"journal":{"name":"Learning and Motivation","volume":"90 ","pages":"Article 102123"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143687746","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-05-01Epub Date: 2025-02-15DOI: 10.1016/j.lmot.2025.102110
Jiao Song , Ru Wang , Xinyuan Wu , Zhiyu Zhang
The growing interest in gamification as a pedagogical tool has highlighted its potential to enhance engagement and general language proficiency. However, limited research has specifically investigated its effects on autonomous and controlled motivation, as well as its role in fostering oral skills in EFL contexts. Addressing these gaps, this study draws on the Broaden-and-build Theory to examine the impact of gamification on autonomous motivation, controlled motivation, and oral skills among Chinese EFL learners. Utilizing a pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design, the study involved an experimental group (EG, n = 253) that participated in gamified learning activities and a control group (CG, n = 261) that followed traditional instructional methods. Data were analyzed using independent samples t-tests to compare the groups' performance before and after the intervention. The results revealed that the EG exhibited significantly higher levels of autonomous motivation and oral skill proficiency compared to the CG. Additionally, controlled motivation levels increased among learners in the gamified setting. These findings underscore the potential of gamification to not only promote autonomy but also enhance oral language development in EFL learners. The implications of the study suggest that integrating gamification into language instruction can create more engaging and effective learning experiences, offering valuable insights for educators and curriculum designers aiming to optimize EFL teaching practices.
人们对游戏化作为一种教学工具的兴趣日益浓厚,这突显了它提高参与度和一般语言熟练程度的潜力。然而,有限的研究专门调查了它对自主动机和控制动机的影响,以及它在培养英语环境下口语技能的作用。为了解决这些问题,本研究利用“拓展与构建”理论来研究游戏化对中国英语学习者自主动机、控制动机和口语技能的影响。本研究采用前测后测准实验设计,实验组(EG, n = 253)参与游戏化学习活动,对照组(CG, n = 261)遵循传统教学方法。采用独立样本t检验对数据进行分析,比较干预前后各组的表现。结果显示,与CG组相比,EG组表现出更高水平的自主动机和口语技能熟练程度。此外,在游戏化环境中,学习者的可控动机水平有所提高。这些发现强调了游戏化的潜力,不仅可以促进英语学习者的自主性,还可以促进口语的发展。该研究表明,将游戏化融入语言教学可以创造更有吸引力和更有效的学习体验,为旨在优化英语教学实践的教育工作者和课程设计师提供有价值的见解。
{"title":"Unboxing autonomous motivation, controlled motivation, and oral skills among EFL learners: Insights into gamification through the lens of broaden-and-build theory","authors":"Jiao Song , Ru Wang , Xinyuan Wu , Zhiyu Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.lmot.2025.102110","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.lmot.2025.102110","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The growing interest in gamification as a pedagogical tool has highlighted its potential to enhance engagement and general language proficiency. However, limited research has specifically investigated its effects on autonomous and controlled motivation, as well as its role in fostering oral skills in EFL contexts. Addressing these gaps, this study draws on the Broaden-and-build Theory to examine the impact of gamification on autonomous motivation, controlled motivation, and oral skills among Chinese EFL learners. Utilizing a pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design, the study involved an experimental group (EG, n = 253) that participated in gamified learning activities and a control group (CG, n = 261) that followed traditional instructional methods. Data were analyzed using independent samples t-tests to compare the groups' performance before and after the intervention. The results revealed that the EG exhibited significantly higher levels of autonomous motivation and oral skill proficiency compared to the CG. Additionally, controlled motivation levels increased among learners in the gamified setting. These findings underscore the potential of gamification to not only promote autonomy but also enhance oral language development in EFL learners. The implications of the study suggest that integrating gamification into language instruction can create more engaging and effective learning experiences, offering valuable insights for educators and curriculum designers aiming to optimize EFL teaching practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47305,"journal":{"name":"Learning and Motivation","volume":"90 ","pages":"Article 102110"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143419034","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-05-01Epub Date: 2025-03-29DOI: 10.1016/j.lmot.2025.102126
Biao Xu, Norsafinar Rahim
The rapid growth of online learning has highlighted the need to understand social dynamics in virtual environments, particularly the interplay between peer feedback, social support, and language acquisition. While these factors have been explored in traditional classrooms, their roles in online EFL education have remained underexamined. Additionally, learners’ attitudes toward online learning environments, which may influence engagement and outcomes, have rarely been investigated. This study aimed at exploring the role of peer feedback and social support in enhancing Chinese EFL learners’ motivation, task engagement, and language mastery, while also examining their attitudes toward online learning. A mixed-methods design was utilized, involving 122 female EFL learners from China, divided into a Peer Feedback Group (Experimental Group 1), a Social Support Group (Experimental Group 2), and a Control Group (CG). Quantitative data were obtained through pre- and post-tests, while qualitative data were gathered via open-ended surveys to capture the participants’ perspectives. Results revealed that both peer feedback and social support significantly improved motivation, task engagement, and language mastery, with EG1 and EG2 demonstrating similar post-test performance. The participants expressed positive views toward online learning, emphasizing the importance of social interactions in maintaining motivation and engagement. The study concluded that integrating peer feedback and social support into online EFL instruction can significantly enhance learning outcomes. It underscores the value of fostering social interactions in virtual environments and suggests that learners’ attitudes are essential to the effectiveness of these mechanisms. These findings offer practical insights for improving online EFL instruction by leveraging peer feedback and social support as equally effective educational tools for language learning.
{"title":"Peer feedback and social support in online learning: Examining motivation, task engagement, and language mastery through an activity theory perspective","authors":"Biao Xu, Norsafinar Rahim","doi":"10.1016/j.lmot.2025.102126","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.lmot.2025.102126","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The rapid growth of online learning has highlighted the need to understand social dynamics in virtual environments, particularly the interplay between peer feedback, social support, and language acquisition. While these factors have been explored in traditional classrooms, their roles in online EFL education have remained underexamined. Additionally, learners’ attitudes toward online learning environments, which may influence engagement and outcomes, have rarely been investigated. This study aimed at exploring the role of peer feedback and social support in enhancing Chinese EFL learners’ motivation, task engagement, and language mastery, while also examining their attitudes toward online learning. A mixed-methods design was utilized, involving 122 female EFL learners from China, divided into a Peer Feedback Group (Experimental Group 1), a Social Support Group (Experimental Group 2), and a Control Group (CG). Quantitative data were obtained through pre- and post-tests, while qualitative data were gathered via open-ended surveys to capture the participants’ perspectives. Results revealed that both peer feedback and social support significantly improved motivation, task engagement, and language mastery, with EG1 and EG2 demonstrating similar post-test performance. The participants expressed positive views toward online learning, emphasizing the importance of social interactions in maintaining motivation and engagement. The study concluded that integrating peer feedback and social support into online EFL instruction can significantly enhance learning outcomes. It underscores the value of fostering social interactions in virtual environments and suggests that learners’ attitudes are essential to the effectiveness of these mechanisms. These findings offer practical insights for improving online EFL instruction by leveraging peer feedback and social support as equally effective educational tools for language learning.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":47305,"journal":{"name":"Learning and Motivation","volume":"90 ","pages":"Article 102126"},"PeriodicalIF":1.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143734627","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"心理学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}