Home Linguistics & Semiotics Transfer of learning, fear of failure, procrastination, and self-efficacy in learning English: Any evidence from the arts?
Article
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

Transfer of learning, fear of failure, procrastination, and self-efficacy in learning English: Any evidence from the arts?

  • Min-Chen Tseng EMAIL logo
Published/Copyright: November 4, 2022

Abstract

This study examined the potential of “transfer of learning” for arts students and the relationships among students’ fear of failure, procrastination, and self-efficacy when learning English. Two studies were conducted; in the first study, we investigated transfer of learning for arts students between their majors and the English language. In Study 2, we explored the influence of the fear of failure, procrastination, and self-efficacy on students’ English proficiency levels. We implemented a structural equation model (SEM) to ascertain whether the fear of failure and procrastination played a mediating role between students’ self-efficacy and English proficiency levels. The participants consisted of 501 students majoring in arts. The research tools included the online General English Proficiency Test and a questionnaire. The results indicated that both hugging and bridging strategies were significantly correlated with students’ English language achievements. Stepwise regression analysis revealed that hugging strategies, such as setting expectations, matching, simulating, modeling, and practicing problem-based learning, were positive predictors. The SEM results indicated that self-efficacy had a negative effect on students’ procrastination, and both the fear of failure and procrastination played mediating roles between students’ self-efficacy and English language achievement.


Corresponding author: Min-Chen Tseng, General Education Center, National Taiwan University of Arts, No. 59, Section 1 Da-Kuang Road, Pan-chiao District, 22058, New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC, E-mail:

Funding source: Ministry of Science and Technology Taiwan

Award Identifier / Grant number: MOST 105-2410-H-144-00

  1. Funding: This work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology Taiwan grant number: MOST 105-2410-H-144-00.

References

Aremu, A. O., Taiwo M. Williams, & Francis T. Adesina. 2011. Influence of academic procrastination and personality types on academic achievement and efficacy of in-school adolescents in Ibadan. IFE Psychologia 19. 93–113. https://doi.org/10.4314/ifep.v19i1.64591.10.4314/ifep.v19i1.64591Search in Google Scholar

Baldwin, Timothy T. & J. Kevin Ford. 1988. Transfer of training: A review and directions for future research. Personnel Psychology 41(1). 63–105. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1744-6570.1988.tb00632.x.Search in Google Scholar

Balkis, Murat. 2013. Academic procrastination, academic life satisfaction and academic achievement: The mediation role of rational beliefs about studying. Journal of Cognitive and Behavioral Psychotherapies 13(1). 57–74.Search in Google Scholar

Bandura, Albert. 1997. Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. New York: W. H. Freeman.Search in Google Scholar

Baron, Reuben M. & David A. Kenny. 1986. The moderator–mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 51(6). 1173–1182.10.1037/0022-3514.51.6.1173Search in Google Scholar

Baum, Susan M., Steven V. Owen & B. A. Oreck. 1997. Using art processes to enhance academic self-regulation. Critical Links: Learning in the Arts and Student Academic and Social Development. 64–65.Search in Google Scholar

Bedell, Jeffrey & Herbert Marlowe. 1995. An evaluation of test anxiety scales: Convergent, discriminant, and predictive validity. In Charles Spielberger & Peter Vagg (eds.), Test anxiety: Theory, assessment, and treatment, 35–45. Washington, DC: Taylor & Francis.Search in Google Scholar

Bembenutty, Hefer & Stuart A. Karabenick. 2004. Inherent association between academic delay of gratification, future time perspective, and self-regulated learning. Educational Psychology Review 16(1). 35–57.10.1023/B:EDPR.0000012344.34008.5cSearch in Google Scholar

Burka, Jane B. & Lenora M. Yuen. 1983 Procrastination: why you do it and what to do about it. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.Search in Google Scholar

Butterfield, Earl C. & Gregory D. Nelson. 1989. Theory and practice of teaching for transfer. Educational Technology Research and Development 37(3). 5–38.10.1007/BF02299054Search in Google Scholar

Catterall, James S. 2002. The arts and the transfer of learning. Critical links: Learning in the arts and student academic and social development. 151–157. Denver: Arts Education Partnership.Search in Google Scholar

Cohen, Jacob. 1988. Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences, 2nd ed. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.Search in Google Scholar

Conroy, David E. 2001. Progress in the development of a multidimensional measure of fear of failure: The Performance Failure Appraisal Inventory (PFAI). Anxiety, Stress and Coping 14. 431–452. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615800108248365.Search in Google Scholar

Conroy, David E. & Andrew J. Elliot. 2004. Fear of failure and achievement goals in sport: Addressing the issue of the chicken and the egg. Anxiety, Stress & Coping 17(3). 271–285. https://doi.org/10.1080/1061580042000191642.Search in Google Scholar

Conroy, David E., Miranda P. Kaye & Angela M. Fifer. 2007. Cognitive links between fear of failure and perfectionism. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy 25(4). 237–253. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10942-007-0052-7.Search in Google Scholar

Conroy, David E., Jonathan N. Metzler & Scott M. Hofer. 2003. Factorial invariance and latent mean stability of performance failure appraisals. Structural Equation Modeling 10. 401–422. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15328007SEM1003_4.Search in Google Scholar

Conroy, David E., Artur Poczwardowski & Keith P. Henschen. 2001. Evaluative criteria and consequences associated with failure and success for elite athletes and performing artists. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology 13. 300–322. https://doi.org/10.1080/104132001753144428.Search in Google Scholar

Conroy, David E., Jason P. Willow & Jonathan N. Metzler. 2002. Multidimensional measurement of fear of failure: The performance failure appraisal inventory. Journal of Applied Sport Psychology 14. 76–90. https://doi.org/10.1080/10413200252907752.Search in Google Scholar

Cormier, Stephen M. & Joseph D. Hagman. 2014. Transfer of learning: Contemporary research and applications. Academic Press.Search in Google Scholar

Cutrone, Pino. 2009. Overcoming Japanese EFL learners’ fear of speaking. Language Studies Working Papers 1. 55–63.Search in Google Scholar

Elliot, Andrew J. 1997. Integrating the “classic” and “contemporary” approaches to achievement motivation: A hierarchical model of approach and avoidance achievement motivation. In M. Maehr & P. Pintrich (eds.), Advances in motivation and achievement, vol. 10, 143–179. Stamford, CT: JAI Press.Search in Google Scholar

Elliot, Andrew J. & Todd M. Thrash. 2004. The intergenerational transmission of fear of failure. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin 30(8). 957–971. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167203262024.Search in Google Scholar

Ellis, A. & William J. Knaus. 1977. Overcoming procrastination. New York: Institute of Rational Living.Search in Google Scholar

Fallon, Dianne, Cindy J. Lahar & David Susman. 2009. Taking the high road to transfer: Building bridges between English and Psychology. Teaching English in the Two-Year College 37(1). 41–55.10.58680/tetyc20097732Search in Google Scholar

Ferrari, Joseph R. 2001. Procrastination as self-regulation failure of performance: effects of cognitive load, self-awareness, and time limits on working best under pressure? European Journal of Personality 15(5). 391–406. https://doi.org/10.1002/per.413.Search in Google Scholar

Fishbein, Martin & Susan E. Middlestadt. 1987. The ICSOM medical questionnaire. Senza Sordino 25(6). 1–8.Search in Google Scholar

Fogarty, Rhys, D. Perkins & John Barell. 1992. How to teach for transfer: The mindful school. IRI/Skylight Training and Publishing.Search in Google Scholar

Fornell, Claes & David F. Larcker. 1981. Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. Journal of Marketing Research 18. 39–50. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224378101800104.Search in Google Scholar

Green, Jonathan H. 2015. Teaching for transfer in EAP: Hugging and bridging revisited. English for Specific Purposes 37. 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esp.2014.06.003.Search in Google Scholar

Grunschel, Carola, Justine Patrzek & Stefan Fries. 2013. Exploring reasons and consequences of academic procrastination: An interview study. European Journal of Psychology of Education 28(3). 841–861.10.1007/s10212-012-0143-4Search in Google Scholar

Hagtvet, Knut A. & Jeri Benson. 1997. The motive to avoid failure and test anxiety responses: Empirical support for integration of two research traditions. Anxiety, Stress and Coping 10. 35–57. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615809708249294.Search in Google Scholar

Hair, Joseph F., William C. Black, Barry J. Babin & Rolph. E. Anderson. 2010. Multivariate data analysis. 7th ed. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.Search in Google Scholar

Heckhausen, Heinz. 1975. Fear of failure as a self-reinforcing motive system. In I. Sarason & C. Spielberger (eds.), Stress and anxiety, 117–128. Washington, DC: Hemisphere.Search in Google Scholar

Heckhausen, Heinz. 1984. Emergent achievement behavior: Some early developments. In J. Nicholls & M. Maehr (eds.), Advances in motivation and achievement, vol. 3, 1–32.Search in Google Scholar

Her, O. S., C. I. Chou, S. W. Su, K. H. Chiang & Y. H. Chen. 2013. A critical review of the English benchmark policy for graduation in Taiwan’s universities. Educational Policy Forum 16(3). 1–30.Search in Google Scholar

Herman, William. 1990. Fear of failure as a distinctive personality trait measure of test anxiety. Journal of Research and Development in Education 23. 180–185.Search in Google Scholar

Holton, Elwood FIII., Reid A. Bates, Dian L. Seyler & Manuel B. Carvalho. 1997. Toward construct validation of a transfer climate instrument. Human Resource Development Quarterly 8(2). 95–113. https://doi.org/10.1002/hrdq.3920080203.Search in Google Scholar

Howell, Andrew J. & David C. Watson. 2007. Procrastination: Associations with achievement goal orientation and learning strategies. Personality and Individual Differences 43(1). 167–178. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2006.11.017.Search in Google Scholar

James, A. Mark. 2006. Teaching for transfer in ELT. ELT Journal 60(2). 151–159. https://doi.org/10.1093/elt/cci102.Search in Google Scholar

Kayaoglu, M. Naci. 1997. An investigation of the learning strategies of Turkish EFL and ESL adult learners and the relationship between their beliefs about different aspects of language learning and their strategy use Doctoral dissertation, University of Bristol.Search in Google Scholar

Kim, Kyung Ryung & Eun Hee Seo. 2015. The relationship between procrastination and academic performance: A meta-analysis. Personality and Individual Differences 82. 26–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2015.02.038.Search in Google Scholar

Klassen, Robert M., L. Lindsey Krawchuk & Sukaina Rajani. 2008. Academic procrastination of undergraduates: Low self-efficacy to self-regulate predicts higher levels of procrastination. Contemporary Educational Psychology 33(4). 915–931. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cedpsych.2007.07.001.Search in Google Scholar

Lay, C. H. & H. C. Schouwenburg. 1993. Trait procrastination, time management, and academic behavior. Journal of Social Behavior and Personality 8. 647–662. https://doi.org/10.1016/0191-8869(94)00176-S.Search in Google Scholar

Lei, Lei & Xiaoqing Qin. 2009. An empirical study of success and failure attributions of EFL learners at the tertiary level in China. Asian EFL Journal 11(3). 29–51.Search in Google Scholar

Lin, Shengjie., Carlton J. Fong & Yidan Wang. 2017. Chinese undergraduates’ sources of self-efficacy differ by sibling status, achievement, and fear of failure along two pathways. Social Psychology of Education 20(2). 361–386. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11218-017-9367-0.Search in Google Scholar

Misko, J. 1995. Transfer: Using learning in new contexts. Leabrook, Australi: NCVER.Search in Google Scholar

O’Brien, William Kirkman. 2002. Applying the trans-theoretical model to academic procrastination. Unpublished doctoral dissertation. University of Houston.Search in Google Scholar

Pajares, Frank. 1997. Current directions in self-efficacy research. In Maeher, M. & Pintrich, R. Paul. (eds.), Advances in motivation and achievement. 1–49.Search in Google Scholar

Park, Seung Won & Rayne A. Sperling. 2012. Academic procrastinators and their self-regulation. Psychology 3(1). 12–23. https://doi.org/10.4236/psych.2012.3100.Search in Google Scholar

Perkins, David N. & Gavriel Salomon. 1987. Transfer and teaching thinking. In Thinking: The second international conference, vol. 2, 285. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.10.4324/9781315802015-22Search in Google Scholar

Perkins, David N. & Gavriel Salomon. 1988. Teaching for transfer. Educational Leadership 46(1). 22–32.Search in Google Scholar

Perkins, David N. & Gavriel Salomon. 1992. Transfer of learning. International Encyclopedia of Education 2. 6452–6457.Search in Google Scholar

Perkins, J. N. & Gavriel Salomon. 1996. Learning transfer. In A. Tuijman, (ed.) Industrial psychology (2nd edn). London: Routledge.Search in Google Scholar

Pintrich, Paul R. 2000. The role of goal orientation in self-regulated learning. In Monique Boekaerts, Paul Pintrich & Moshe Zeidner (eds.), Handbook of self-regulation, 451–502. San Diego, CA: Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-012109890-2/50043-3.Search in Google Scholar

Pintrich, Paul R. & Elisabeth DeGroot. 1990. Quantitative and qualitative perspectives on student motivational beliefs and self-regulated learning. In Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association, vol. 128. Boston, MA.Search in Google Scholar

Rothblum, Esther D., Laura J. Solomon & Janice Murakami. 1986. Affective, cognitive, and behavioral differences between high and low procrastinators. Journal of Counseling Psychology 33(4). 387–394. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.33.4.387.Search in Google Scholar

Royer, James M. 1979. Theories of the transfer of learning. Educational Psychologist 14(1). 53–69. https://doi.org/10.1080/00461527909529207.Search in Google Scholar

Schack, Gina D. 1989. Self-efficacy as a mediator in the creative productivity of gifted children. Journal for the Education of the Gifted 12. 231–249. https://doi.org/10.1177/016235328901200306.Search in Google Scholar

Schouwenburg, Henri C. 2004. Procrastination in academic settings: General introduction. In Henri. C. Schowenburg, Clarry. H. Lay, Timothy. A. Pychyl & Joseph. R. Ferrari (eds.), Counseling the procrastinator in academic settings. 3–17. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/10808-001.Search in Google Scholar

Schunk, Dale H. 1995. Self-efficacy and education and instruction. In Self-efficacy, adaptation, and adjustment. 281–303. Boston, MA: Springer.10.1007/978-1-4419-6868-5_10Search in Google Scholar

Semb, George, D. Marvin Glick & Robert E. Spencer. 1979. Student withdrawals and delayed work patterns in self-paced psychology courses. Teaching of Psychology 6(1). 23–25. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15328023top0601_8.Search in Google Scholar

Solomon, Laura J. & Esther D. Rothblum. 1984. Academic procrastination: Frequency and cognitive-behavioral correlates. Journal of Counseling Psychology 31. 503–509. https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-0167.31.4.503.Search in Google Scholar

Steel, Piers. 2007. The nature of procrastination: A meta-analytic and theoretical review of quintessential self-regulatory failure. Psychological Bulletin 133(1). 65–94. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.133.1.65.Search in Google Scholar

Subedi, B. S. 2004. Emerging trends of research on transfer of learning. International Education Journal 5(4). 591–599.Search in Google Scholar

Thorndike, Edward L. & R. S. Woodworth. 1901. The influence of improvement in one mental function upon the efficiency of other functions. II. The estimation of magnitudes. Psychological Review 8(4). 384–395. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0071280.Search in Google Scholar

Tseng, Min-Chen. 2016. Arts students’ self-efficacy and mindset between their professions and English learning: Can’t I be as good in the arts as in English? Journal of Education & Psychology 39(3). 39–66. https://doi.org/10.3966/102498852016093903002.Search in Google Scholar

Tseng, Min-Chen. 2017a. Self-efficacy and time spent learning English: Differences among Taiwanese students from medical, arts, and comprehensive Universities. TESOL International Journal 12(2). 32–46.Search in Google Scholar

Tseng, Min-Chen. 2017b. A 3x2 achievement goal, fear of failure, self-handicapping strategies, and self-efficacy: Why don’t students pass the English threshold? Tung Hua Book Co., Ltd.Search in Google Scholar

Van Eerde, Wendelien. 2003. A meta-analytically derived nomological network of procrastination. Personality and Individual Differences 35(6). 1401–1418. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(02)00358-6.Search in Google Scholar

Williams, Marion & L. Robert Burden. 1997. Psychology for language teachers: A social constructivist approach. Cambridge University Press.Search in Google Scholar

Winner, Ellen. & Monica Cooper. 2000. Mute those claims: No evidence (yet) for a causal link between arts study and academic achievement. Journal of Aesthetic Education 34(3–4). 11–75. https://doi.org/10.2307/3333637.Search in Google Scholar

Wolters, Christopher A. 2003. Understanding procrastination from a self-regulated learning perspective. Journal of Educational Psychology 95(1). 179–187. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.95.1.179.Search in Google Scholar

Published Online: 2022-11-04
Published in Print: 2022-11-25

© 2020 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Downloaded on 31.12.2025 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/applirev-2019-0086/html
Scroll to top button