Differential effects of resource availability and usage on learning, achievement, and subjective well-being

Resources play a crucial role in developmental processes. However, assessments often fail to distinguish between resource availability and their active use in driving change or sustaining a system state, even though possessing resources should not be sufficient to achieve desired outcomes. This arti...

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Main Author: Bettina Harder
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Cogent Education
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2501440
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author Bettina Harder
author_facet Bettina Harder
author_sort Bettina Harder
collection DOAJ
description Resources play a crucial role in developmental processes. However, assessments often fail to distinguish between resource availability and their active use in driving change or sustaining a system state, even though possessing resources should not be sufficient to achieve desired outcomes. This article systematically compares resource availability versus usage for the first time, drawing on the theory of educational and learning capital (Ziegler & Baker, 2013) and examining their correlates across two studies.Study 1 (N = 64 university students, 87.5% female, Mage = 23.3 years) analyzed the relationship between resource facets, self-regulation of the learning process, and implemented learning strategies. Study 2 (N = 120 Ph.D. students, 40% female, Mage = 28.43 years) examined the resource facets in relation to deliberate practice, academic achievement, adaptation to their field (DILA), and subjective well-being.Results from Study 1 highlighted the importance of utilizing environmental resources in the learning process. In Study 2, usage did not dominate predictions of learning and achievement, while results also indicated that subjective well-being depended more on resource availability, possibly because gathering resources provides security in the face of anticipated life challenges. These findings provide new insights into resource dynamics and directions for future research.
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spelling doaj-art-a9fe477f09c041b88591ad07e42fee342025-08-20T03:48:26ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Education2331-186X2025-12-0112110.1080/2331186X.2025.2501440Differential effects of resource availability and usage on learning, achievement, and subjective well-beingBettina Harder0Department of Psychology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Nürnberg, GermanyResources play a crucial role in developmental processes. However, assessments often fail to distinguish between resource availability and their active use in driving change or sustaining a system state, even though possessing resources should not be sufficient to achieve desired outcomes. This article systematically compares resource availability versus usage for the first time, drawing on the theory of educational and learning capital (Ziegler & Baker, 2013) and examining their correlates across two studies.Study 1 (N = 64 university students, 87.5% female, Mage = 23.3 years) analyzed the relationship between resource facets, self-regulation of the learning process, and implemented learning strategies. Study 2 (N = 120 Ph.D. students, 40% female, Mage = 28.43 years) examined the resource facets in relation to deliberate practice, academic achievement, adaptation to their field (DILA), and subjective well-being.Results from Study 1 highlighted the importance of utilizing environmental resources in the learning process. In Study 2, usage did not dominate predictions of learning and achievement, while results also indicated that subjective well-being depended more on resource availability, possibly because gathering resources provides security in the face of anticipated life challenges. These findings provide new insights into resource dynamics and directions for future research.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2501440Resourceseducational and learning capitallearningachievementsubjective well-beingTeachers & Teacher Education
spellingShingle Bettina Harder
Differential effects of resource availability and usage on learning, achievement, and subjective well-being
Cogent Education
Resources
educational and learning capital
learning
achievement
subjective well-being
Teachers & Teacher Education
title Differential effects of resource availability and usage on learning, achievement, and subjective well-being
title_full Differential effects of resource availability and usage on learning, achievement, and subjective well-being
title_fullStr Differential effects of resource availability and usage on learning, achievement, and subjective well-being
title_full_unstemmed Differential effects of resource availability and usage on learning, achievement, and subjective well-being
title_short Differential effects of resource availability and usage on learning, achievement, and subjective well-being
title_sort differential effects of resource availability and usage on learning achievement and subjective well being
topic Resources
educational and learning capital
learning
achievement
subjective well-being
Teachers & Teacher Education
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2025.2501440
work_keys_str_mv AT bettinaharder differentialeffectsofresourceavailabilityandusageonlearningachievementandsubjectivewellbeing