What makes them self-regulated? Self-regulation procedures of academically successful students and key influences

Self-regulated learning (SRL) skills are strong predictors of positive learning outcomes, but the factors causing students to develop these skills are still not clearly defined. The purpose of this study was to explore the nature of the SRL process of high achievers and factors promoting the develop...

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Main Authors: Seda Aydan, Yesim Capa-Aydin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-07-01
Series:Acta Psychologica
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691825004196
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author Seda Aydan
Yesim Capa-Aydin
author_facet Seda Aydan
Yesim Capa-Aydin
author_sort Seda Aydan
collection DOAJ
description Self-regulated learning (SRL) skills are strong predictors of positive learning outcomes, but the factors causing students to develop these skills are still not clearly defined. The purpose of this study was to explore the nature of the SRL process of high achievers and factors promoting the development of SRL. To serve this purpose, qualitative data were collected from science high school students and teachers. Criterion sampling was used to select students and maximum variation sampling was used for teachers. While choosing student participants (n = 15), three students from each school getting the highest scores from the questionnaire were chosen. While choosing teacher participants (n = 15), branch, gender, and teaching experience were considered. Individual interviews were conducted with students and teachers. The data were analyzed via content analysis method. The results of the study showed that SRL process is complex, and several phases of SRL take place concurrently. High achievers employ multiple SRL strategies and excel at these strategies by experimenting with them. Primary school teachers play a key role in SRL development, while other K12 teachers help students maintain SRL strategies. Teaching SRL skills, recording students' learning, building rapport and generating academic interest were the most effective practices for enhancing SRL. Student-related factors like having multiple motivational beliefs to attain goals, a co-regulating companion, positive self-efficacy beliefs, and advanced critical thinking skills were also found influential.
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spelling doaj-art-b098f3af5582481bbd57d4b3330ba02e2025-08-20T03:20:02ZengElsevierActa Psychologica0001-69182025-07-0125710510610.1016/j.actpsy.2025.105106What makes them self-regulated? Self-regulation procedures of academically successful students and key influencesSeda Aydan0Yesim Capa-Aydin1English Language School, TED University, Ziya Gökalp Street 48/A, 06420 Çankaya, Ankara, Türkiye; Correspondence author at: 3350 La Jolla Village Dr, San Diego, CA 92161, United States of America.Department of Educational Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Üniversiteler District, Dumlupınar Avenue, No:1, Çankaya, Ankara, TürkiyeSelf-regulated learning (SRL) skills are strong predictors of positive learning outcomes, but the factors causing students to develop these skills are still not clearly defined. The purpose of this study was to explore the nature of the SRL process of high achievers and factors promoting the development of SRL. To serve this purpose, qualitative data were collected from science high school students and teachers. Criterion sampling was used to select students and maximum variation sampling was used for teachers. While choosing student participants (n = 15), three students from each school getting the highest scores from the questionnaire were chosen. While choosing teacher participants (n = 15), branch, gender, and teaching experience were considered. Individual interviews were conducted with students and teachers. The data were analyzed via content analysis method. The results of the study showed that SRL process is complex, and several phases of SRL take place concurrently. High achievers employ multiple SRL strategies and excel at these strategies by experimenting with them. Primary school teachers play a key role in SRL development, while other K12 teachers help students maintain SRL strategies. Teaching SRL skills, recording students' learning, building rapport and generating academic interest were the most effective practices for enhancing SRL. Student-related factors like having multiple motivational beliefs to attain goals, a co-regulating companion, positive self-efficacy beliefs, and advanced critical thinking skills were also found influential.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691825004196Self-regulated learningSRL strategiesFactors affecting SRL
spellingShingle Seda Aydan
Yesim Capa-Aydin
What makes them self-regulated? Self-regulation procedures of academically successful students and key influences
Acta Psychologica
Self-regulated learning
SRL strategies
Factors affecting SRL
title What makes them self-regulated? Self-regulation procedures of academically successful students and key influences
title_full What makes them self-regulated? Self-regulation procedures of academically successful students and key influences
title_fullStr What makes them self-regulated? Self-regulation procedures of academically successful students and key influences
title_full_unstemmed What makes them self-regulated? Self-regulation procedures of academically successful students and key influences
title_short What makes them self-regulated? Self-regulation procedures of academically successful students and key influences
title_sort what makes them self regulated self regulation procedures of academically successful students and key influences
topic Self-regulated learning
SRL strategies
Factors affecting SRL
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691825004196
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