Systematic Review of the Literature on Interventions to Improve Self-Regulation of Learning in First-Year University Students

Previous research has shown a significant percentage of dropouts in university studies, particularly in the first years. Furthermore, evidence links higher motivation and curricular improvement in students when they enhance their self-regulated learning (SRL). A systematic review was conducted using...

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Main Authors: David Simón-Grábalos, David Fonseca, Marian Aláez, Susana Romero-Yesa, Carlos Fresneda-Portillo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Education Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/3/372
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author David Simón-Grábalos
David Fonseca
Marian Aláez
Susana Romero-Yesa
Carlos Fresneda-Portillo
author_facet David Simón-Grábalos
David Fonseca
Marian Aláez
Susana Romero-Yesa
Carlos Fresneda-Portillo
author_sort David Simón-Grábalos
collection DOAJ
description Previous research has shown a significant percentage of dropouts in university studies, particularly in the first years. Furthermore, evidence links higher motivation and curricular improvement in students when they enhance their self-regulated learning (SRL). A systematic review was conducted using the PRISMA method to identify and analyze interventions to improve SRL in first-year undergraduate students. The interventions analyzed addressed student learning, classroom management by teachers, evaluation processes, and administrative management. Additionally, the need for a holistic and continuous approach was identified, covering cognitive, metacognitive, motivational, behavioral, and affective dimensions. The combination of self-perception questionnaires and academic grades was the most used strategy to measure intervention effectiveness. These findings emphasize the importance of adapting interventions to specific contexts and ensuring their continuity to maximize the impact on the development of students’ self-regulated learning. The results reveal a high heterogeneity in the approaches applied, highlighting the most effective techniques as follows: specialized workshops, the use of virtual tools, and group and individual tutoring. Intracurricular interventions, integrated within course content and led by the faculty, demonstrated greater success by embedding SRL strategies into the teaching–learning process. In contrast, extracurricular interventions, conducted by tutors or academic advisors, faced challenges related to student motivation and participation.
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spelling doaj-art-28d930b2e71b4f7bae30adf549f41ef22025-08-20T03:43:26ZengMDPI AGEducation Sciences2227-71022025-03-0115337210.3390/educsci15030372Systematic Review of the Literature on Interventions to Improve Self-Regulation of Learning in First-Year University StudentsDavid Simón-Grábalos0David Fonseca1Marian Aláez2Susana Romero-Yesa3Carlos Fresneda-Portillo4HER-TEL Research Group (Human Environment Research—Technology Enhanced Learning), de La Salle, Universitat Ramon Llull, 08022 Barcelona, SpainHER-TEL Research Group (Human Environment Research—Technology Enhanced Learning), de La Salle, Universitat Ramon Llull, 08022 Barcelona, SpainFaculty of Law, Department of Private Law, HUME Research Team, University of Deusto, 48007 Deusto, SpainFaculty of Law, Department of Private Law, HUME Research Team, University of Deusto, 48007 Deusto, SpainDepartment of Quantitative Methods, Universidad Loyola, 41704 Seville, SpainPrevious research has shown a significant percentage of dropouts in university studies, particularly in the first years. Furthermore, evidence links higher motivation and curricular improvement in students when they enhance their self-regulated learning (SRL). A systematic review was conducted using the PRISMA method to identify and analyze interventions to improve SRL in first-year undergraduate students. The interventions analyzed addressed student learning, classroom management by teachers, evaluation processes, and administrative management. Additionally, the need for a holistic and continuous approach was identified, covering cognitive, metacognitive, motivational, behavioral, and affective dimensions. The combination of self-perception questionnaires and academic grades was the most used strategy to measure intervention effectiveness. These findings emphasize the importance of adapting interventions to specific contexts and ensuring their continuity to maximize the impact on the development of students’ self-regulated learning. The results reveal a high heterogeneity in the approaches applied, highlighting the most effective techniques as follows: specialized workshops, the use of virtual tools, and group and individual tutoring. Intracurricular interventions, integrated within course content and led by the faculty, demonstrated greater success by embedding SRL strategies into the teaching–learning process. In contrast, extracurricular interventions, conducted by tutors or academic advisors, faced challenges related to student motivation and participation.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/3/372systematic reviewself-regulated learninguniversity/higher studiesfirst-year studentstutorial intervention
spellingShingle David Simón-Grábalos
David Fonseca
Marian Aláez
Susana Romero-Yesa
Carlos Fresneda-Portillo
Systematic Review of the Literature on Interventions to Improve Self-Regulation of Learning in First-Year University Students
Education Sciences
systematic review
self-regulated learning
university/higher studies
first-year students
tutorial intervention
title Systematic Review of the Literature on Interventions to Improve Self-Regulation of Learning in First-Year University Students
title_full Systematic Review of the Literature on Interventions to Improve Self-Regulation of Learning in First-Year University Students
title_fullStr Systematic Review of the Literature on Interventions to Improve Self-Regulation of Learning in First-Year University Students
title_full_unstemmed Systematic Review of the Literature on Interventions to Improve Self-Regulation of Learning in First-Year University Students
title_short Systematic Review of the Literature on Interventions to Improve Self-Regulation of Learning in First-Year University Students
title_sort systematic review of the literature on interventions to improve self regulation of learning in first year university students
topic systematic review
self-regulated learning
university/higher studies
first-year students
tutorial intervention
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15/3/372
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