Innovative Methods and Practices of Academic Writing and Writing Instruction
SELFEFFICACY AND MOTIVATION
Leonie Kirchhoff¹, Cordula Maja Jeszke²
1. University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany 2. Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Germany
Students’ perceived “selfefficacy” is said to be an essential factor that can positively influence writing motivation and thus writing achievement (Troia, Schankland and Wolbers 2012; Gardner 1985). Difficulties which are encountered with writing tasks are often associated with greater anxiety which was determined to be a serious impediment to achievement and positive concepts of selfefficacy (Hill 1984; Berliner 1993). In Germany alone, 50% of people who end their studies prematurely do so because of “major writing problems” (Bräuer, 2004). Because writing difficulties can so adversely affect students' motivation, enhancing writing selfefficacy beliefs can greatly bolster their motivation and keep students from giving up on their studies. Indeed, several studies conclude that instructors who can enhance students’ perceived selfefficacy as a writer might eventually lead their students to successful writing (Graham 2007; Noels, Clement and Pelletier 1999; Ryan and Deci 2000; Schunk 2008; Troia, Schankland and Wolbers 2012). During the presentation, qualitative and quantitative data from surveys, which were distributed to a representative body of first year students, will be discussed. This data supports the idea that improved writing skills can positively impact selfefficacy beliefs as well as levels of writing motivation. Effective tools for positively enhancing writing motivation such as enhancing a feeling of selfdetermination, giving informative feedback, setting clear goals and creating a relaxed atmosphere will also be introduced and discussed (Schunk 2008). The research will therefore demonstrate how writing instructors can promote students’ motivation by enhancing their selfefficacy beliefs.
References
Deci, Edward L. & Ryan, Richard M. 1985. “Intrinsic Motivation and selfdetermination in human behaviour”, Perspectives in Social Psychology.
Gardner, Robert C. 1985, “Social psychology and second language learning: The role of attitudes and motivation”, The Social Psychology of Language, vol. 4.
Pajares, Frank 1996, “SelfEfficacy Beliefs in Academic Settings”, Review of Educational Research, no.4, p.543578 (online Sagepub.com).
Schunk, Dale H. 2008, “Factors Affecting SelfEfficacy”, Selfefficacy, adaptation, and adjustment: Theory Research and Applications, p. 285293.
Williams, James D. & Takaku, Seiji 2011, “Help Seeking, selfefficacy, and writing performance among college students”, Journal of Writing Research, vol.3, no.1, p. 118.