Cognitive-motivational characteristics of children varying in reading ability: Evidence for learned helplessness in poor readers

Author: Butkowsky, I.S.; Willows, D.M.

Description: Employing a cognitive-motivational analysis, the present investigation sought to determine some specific self-perceptions that might contribute to motivational and performance deficits observed in children with reading difficulties. 72 5th-grade boys of relatively good, average, and poor reading ability were assessed on tasks in which success and failure were manipulated. Consistent with predictions, poor readers displayed characteristics indicative of learned helplessness and low self-concepts of ability. These included significantly lower initial estimates of success, less persistence, attribution of failures to lack of ability and of successes to factors beyond personal control, and greater decrements in expectancy of success following failure. (30 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Subject headings: Reading difficulties; Children; Self-perception

Publication year: 1980

Journal or book title: Journal of Educational Psychology

Volume: 72

Issue: 3

Pages: 408-422

Find the full text : https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1980-24153-001

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Type: Journal Article

Serial number: 2067