The influence of research self-efficacy and learning engagement on Ed.D students’ academic achievement

IntroductionThe doctor of education (Ed.D) degree plays a crucial role in developing highly specialized professionals in the field of education. Previous researches have shown that research self-efficacy is a positive psychological factor that enhances students’ academic performance. However, there...

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Main Authors: Haifei Miao, Rong Guo, Ming Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1562354/full
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author Haifei Miao
Rong Guo
Ming Li
author_facet Haifei Miao
Rong Guo
Ming Li
author_sort Haifei Miao
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionThe doctor of education (Ed.D) degree plays a crucial role in developing highly specialized professionals in the field of education. Previous researches have shown that research self-efficacy is a positive psychological factor that enhances students’ academic performance. However, there is limited research specifically addressing how to improve the academic achievement of Ed.D students in higher education.MethodsGrounded in social cognitive theory, this study aims to examine the predictive power of research self-efficacy and the mediating role of student engagement in the academic achievement of Ed.D students. A total of 310 participants were included in this study. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to explore the relationships between research self-efficacy, learning engagement, and academic achievement. Mediation analysis was conducted to assess the indirect effect of student engagement on the relationship between research self-efficacy and academic achievement.ResultsThe findings revealed significant and positive correlations among research self-efficacy, learning engagement, and academic achievement. Research self-efficacy was found to directly predict academic achievement and also to indirectly influence it through the mediating effect of student engagement. Learning engagement refers to the degree of effort, persistence, concentration, problem-solving strategies, and affective connection that a student demonstrates during learning activities, encompassing cognitive, emotional, and behavioral dimensions. That is, the higher the Ed.D students’ research self-efficacy, the more they invest in cognitive, emotional and behavioral engagement, actively participating in learning and research activities, which in turn enhances their academic achievement.DiscussionThese results provide valuable insights into the mechanisms by which research self-efficacy influences academic achievement in Ed.D students, highlighting the importance of learning engagement. The study’s findings have implications for designing interventions aimed at enhancing Ed.D students’ academic success.
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spelling doaj-art-1dac08fdbbfa48fcb225a458ce6f90762025-08-20T03:33:54ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-06-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.15623541562354The influence of research self-efficacy and learning engagement on Ed.D students’ academic achievementHaifei MiaoRong GuoMing LiIntroductionThe doctor of education (Ed.D) degree plays a crucial role in developing highly specialized professionals in the field of education. Previous researches have shown that research self-efficacy is a positive psychological factor that enhances students’ academic performance. However, there is limited research specifically addressing how to improve the academic achievement of Ed.D students in higher education.MethodsGrounded in social cognitive theory, this study aims to examine the predictive power of research self-efficacy and the mediating role of student engagement in the academic achievement of Ed.D students. A total of 310 participants were included in this study. Pearson correlation coefficients were used to explore the relationships between research self-efficacy, learning engagement, and academic achievement. Mediation analysis was conducted to assess the indirect effect of student engagement on the relationship between research self-efficacy and academic achievement.ResultsThe findings revealed significant and positive correlations among research self-efficacy, learning engagement, and academic achievement. Research self-efficacy was found to directly predict academic achievement and also to indirectly influence it through the mediating effect of student engagement. Learning engagement refers to the degree of effort, persistence, concentration, problem-solving strategies, and affective connection that a student demonstrates during learning activities, encompassing cognitive, emotional, and behavioral dimensions. That is, the higher the Ed.D students’ research self-efficacy, the more they invest in cognitive, emotional and behavioral engagement, actively participating in learning and research activities, which in turn enhances their academic achievement.DiscussionThese results provide valuable insights into the mechanisms by which research self-efficacy influences academic achievement in Ed.D students, highlighting the importance of learning engagement. The study’s findings have implications for designing interventions aimed at enhancing Ed.D students’ academic success.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1562354/fullresearch self-efficacylearning engagementacademic achievementdoctor of educationdoctoral education
spellingShingle Haifei Miao
Rong Guo
Ming Li
The influence of research self-efficacy and learning engagement on Ed.D students’ academic achievement
Frontiers in Psychology
research self-efficacy
learning engagement
academic achievement
doctor of education
doctoral education
title The influence of research self-efficacy and learning engagement on Ed.D students’ academic achievement
title_full The influence of research self-efficacy and learning engagement on Ed.D students’ academic achievement
title_fullStr The influence of research self-efficacy and learning engagement on Ed.D students’ academic achievement
title_full_unstemmed The influence of research self-efficacy and learning engagement on Ed.D students’ academic achievement
title_short The influence of research self-efficacy and learning engagement on Ed.D students’ academic achievement
title_sort influence of research self efficacy and learning engagement on ed d students academic achievement
topic research self-efficacy
learning engagement
academic achievement
doctor of education
doctoral education
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1562354/full
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