Student negotiated syllabus and students' engagement and academic procrastination: A mixed-method study

Participatory approaches in education, such as syllabus negotiation, have been suggested to enhance student autonomy, engagement, and self-regulation. However, their impact on academic procrastination and engagement still needs to be explored. The main objective of the study was to investigate the i...

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Main Authors: Xiao Liang, Oscar O. Bautista
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-02-01
Series:Acta Psychologica
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691824005596
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author Xiao Liang
Oscar O. Bautista
author_facet Xiao Liang
Oscar O. Bautista
author_sort Xiao Liang
collection DOAJ
description Participatory approaches in education, such as syllabus negotiation, have been suggested to enhance student autonomy, engagement, and self-regulation. However, their impact on academic procrastination and engagement still needs to be explored. The main objective of the study was to investigate the impact of the negotiated syllabus on EAP learners' engagement and procrastination in a higher education context. It also aimed to explore the learners' perceptions of the effectiveness of the negotiated syllabus. A mixed-method research design was used. For the quantitative phase, six EAP classes were divided into an experimental group (n = 139), which used a negotiated syllabus, and a control group (n = 169), which followed a traditional syllabus. For the qualitative phase, 26 students from the experimental group were selected using theoretical sampling. Quantitative data were analyzed using Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA), while qualitative insights were thematically analyzed. Quantitative results revealed significant engagement improvements and reductions in procrastination for the experimental group. Students reported more significant interest in course materials, increased participation, and enhanced time management. Qualitative findings supported these outcomes, highlighting the development of reflective learning and psychological flexibility among students involved in the syllabus negotiation process. These results align with self-determination, suggesting that a negotiated syllabus fosters intrinsic motivation and self-regulation. Syllabus negotiation demonstrates the considerable potential to enhance academic behaviours and support the development of essential lifelong learning skills. It can be concluded that learners' participation in the syllabus promotes student autonomy, engagement, and adaptive learning behaviours. Findings have theoretical implications for educational psychologists and applied linguists and practical consequences for EAP teachers and learners.
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spelling doaj-art-5d24c814e0174494a5f750f5265482742025-01-12T05:24:02ZengElsevierActa Psychologica0001-69182025-02-01252104681Student negotiated syllabus and students' engagement and academic procrastination: A mixed-method studyXiao Liang0Oscar O. Bautista1School of Education Science, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, Shandong, 252000, ChinaEducation Graduate School, De La Salle University -Dasmarinas, Dasmarinas, Cavite 4115, Philippines; Corresponding author.Participatory approaches in education, such as syllabus negotiation, have been suggested to enhance student autonomy, engagement, and self-regulation. However, their impact on academic procrastination and engagement still needs to be explored. The main objective of the study was to investigate the impact of the negotiated syllabus on EAP learners' engagement and procrastination in a higher education context. It also aimed to explore the learners' perceptions of the effectiveness of the negotiated syllabus. A mixed-method research design was used. For the quantitative phase, six EAP classes were divided into an experimental group (n = 139), which used a negotiated syllabus, and a control group (n = 169), which followed a traditional syllabus. For the qualitative phase, 26 students from the experimental group were selected using theoretical sampling. Quantitative data were analyzed using Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA), while qualitative insights were thematically analyzed. Quantitative results revealed significant engagement improvements and reductions in procrastination for the experimental group. Students reported more significant interest in course materials, increased participation, and enhanced time management. Qualitative findings supported these outcomes, highlighting the development of reflective learning and psychological flexibility among students involved in the syllabus negotiation process. These results align with self-determination, suggesting that a negotiated syllabus fosters intrinsic motivation and self-regulation. Syllabus negotiation demonstrates the considerable potential to enhance academic behaviours and support the development of essential lifelong learning skills. It can be concluded that learners' participation in the syllabus promotes student autonomy, engagement, and adaptive learning behaviours. Findings have theoretical implications for educational psychologists and applied linguists and practical consequences for EAP teachers and learners.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691824005596Student-negotiated syllabusStudent engagementAcademic procrastinationTime managementPsychological flexibility
spellingShingle Xiao Liang
Oscar O. Bautista
Student negotiated syllabus and students' engagement and academic procrastination: A mixed-method study
Acta Psychologica
Student-negotiated syllabus
Student engagement
Academic procrastination
Time management
Psychological flexibility
title Student negotiated syllabus and students' engagement and academic procrastination: A mixed-method study
title_full Student negotiated syllabus and students' engagement and academic procrastination: A mixed-method study
title_fullStr Student negotiated syllabus and students' engagement and academic procrastination: A mixed-method study
title_full_unstemmed Student negotiated syllabus and students' engagement and academic procrastination: A mixed-method study
title_short Student negotiated syllabus and students' engagement and academic procrastination: A mixed-method study
title_sort student negotiated syllabus and students engagement and academic procrastination a mixed method study
topic Student-negotiated syllabus
Student engagement
Academic procrastination
Time management
Psychological flexibility
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691824005596
work_keys_str_mv AT xiaoliang studentnegotiatedsyllabusandstudentsengagementandacademicprocrastinationamixedmethodstudy
AT oscarobautista studentnegotiatedsyllabusandstudentsengagementandacademicprocrastinationamixedmethodstudy