Motivation, Emotion, and Cognition : Integrative Perspectives On Intellectual Functioning and Development

(Rick Simeone) #1

chy. To test the sequential validity of the first and second of levels in the hier-
archy, Zimmerman and colleagues compared the two primary sources of
regulation for each level (i.e., modeling for the observation level, perform-
ance and social feedback for the emulation level) in several studies (see col-
umn two in Table 12.1). Zimmerman and Kitsantas (2002) studied acquisi-
tion of writing revision skill with college students. The students learned a
three-step strategy for revising these multisentence problems from a coping
model, a mastery model, or verbal description. The mastery model performed
flawlessly from the outset of the training, whereas the coping model initially
made errors but gradually corrected them. Coping models were viewed as a
qualitatively superior exemplar for observational learning because they con-
vey self-regulatory actions, such as self-monitoring and self-correction, as
well as writing revision skill. Students in the two modeling groups signifi-
cantly surpassed the revision skill of students who attempted to learn from
only verbal description and performance outcomes. As expected, students
who observed the higher quality coping model outperformed students who
observed the lower quality mastery model. Social feedback was insufficient
for students in the no modeling group to make up for their absence of vicari-
ous experience. These academic writing results confirmed the sequential ad-
vantages of engaging in observational learning before attempting enactive
learning experiences. There is other evidence that coping models are more ef-
fective than mastery models on both academic (Schunk & Hanson, 1985;
Schunk, Hanson, & Cox, 1987) and athletic tasks (Kitsantas, Zimmerman, &
Cleary, 2000) especially with students who struggle to achieve mastery.
To test the sequentiality of the third and fourth levels (i.e., self-control and
self-regulation) of skill, Zimmerman and Kitsantas (1999) studied writing ac-
quisition by high school girls. After initial strategy training through observa-
tion and emulation (regulatory levels one and two), the girls set one of three
types of goals. Process goals focused on strategic steps for revising each writ-
ing task whereas outcome goals focused on decreasing the number of words
in the revised passage (i.e., a succinct but comprehensive description). Shift-
ing goal subjects changed from process to outcomes when automaticity was
achieved. A subgroup of girls in each goal setting group were asked to self-
record their goal attainments. The results were consistent with a multilevel
view of goal setting. Girls who shifted goals from processes to outcomes after
reaching level four (i.e., having achieved automaticity) surpassed the writing
revision skill of girls who adhered exclusively to process goals or to outcome
goals. Girls who focused on outcomes exclusively displayed the least writing
skill, and self-recording enhanced writing acquisition for all goal-setting
groups. In addition to their superior writing skill outcomes, girls who shifted
their goals displayed advantageous forms of self-motivation, such as en-
hanced self-efficacy beliefs, self-reactions, intrinsic interest, and strategy at-
tributions. As expected, students who shifted goals from learning to out-


338 ZIMMERMAN AND SCHUNK

Free download pdf