We are proposing a cross-sectional, longitudinal, field-based study of the development of children's self and task perceptions, self-esteem, and activity preferences across three activity domains common to childhood experience: academic, social and physical domains. Our previous work in the academic achievement domain has indicated that both parents' beliefs and children's perceptions of their competence expectations for success, task difficulty perceptions, and task value perceptions are critical mediators of achievement behavior and choices among children in grades 5-12. We propose to extend this work to younger children and a broader set of children's activities to study four basic issues: (1) the development of self and task beliefs within and across domains, (2) the role of these beliefs in shaping children's behavioral choices across the domains, (3) the antecedents of parents' and teachers' beliefs about their children in each of these domains, and (4) the impact of parenting and teaching styles and of teacher and parent beliefs, values, and perceptions on children's developing self and task beliefs. Subjects will be tested five times over a four year period. Initially, approximately 1000 students in grades K-2 and their families will be recruited. Teacher ratings of student competence in each domain and children's performance on standardized measures of mental and physical abilities will be obtained at Wave 0 (Spring 1986). Parents' perceptions and beliefs will also be obtained at Wave 0. At waves 1 (Spring, 1987), 2 (Fall, 1987), 3 (Spring, 1988), and 4 (Spring 1989), both questionnaire and interview procedures will be used to measure the self and task beliefs of the children, and their teachers. Teacher estimates of competence and standardized competency tests will also be given. In addition, sociometric measures will be used to get peer perceptions of each child's social competence. Parents' beliefs and perceptions will be assessed in waves 1, 3, and 4. Two of the waves (2 and 3) will be gathered at the beginning and end of a school year in order to model within year teacher/classroom effects. Both structural equation modelling procedures and more traditional statistical procedures will be used to assess the developmental changes in children's, parents', and teachers' beliefs and the relations among these changes.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01HD017553-01A2
Application #
3314548
Study Section
Human Development and Aging Subcommittee 1 (HUD)
Project Start
1986-04-01
Project End
1991-06-30
Budget Start
1986-04-01
Budget End
1987-06-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
1986
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Department
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
791277940
City
Ann Arbor
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48109
Simpkins, Sandra D (2015) The role of parents in the ontogeny of achievement-related motivation and behavioral choices. Monogr Soc Res Child Dev 80:VII, 1-151
Chow, Angela; Eccles, Jacquelynne S; Salmela-Aro, Katariina (2012) Task value profiles across subjects and aspirations to physical and IT-related sciences in the United States and Finland. Dev Psychol 48:1612-28
Watt, Helen M G; Shapka, Jennifer D; Morris, Zoe A et al. (2012) Gendered motivational processes affecting high school mathematics participation, educational aspirations, and career plans: a comparison of samples from Australia, Canada, and the United States. Dev Psychol 48:1594-611
Simpkins, Sandra D; Fredricks, Jennifer A; Eccles, Jacquelynne S (2012) Charting the Eccles' expectancy-value model from mothers' beliefs in childhood to youths' activities in adolescence. Dev Psychol 48:1019-32
Simpkins, Sandra D; Vest, Andrea E; Becnel, Jennifer N (2010) Participating in sport and music activities in adolescence: the role of activity participation and motivational beliefs during elementary school. J Youth Adolesc 39:1368-86
Simpkins, Sandra D; Eccles, Jacquelynne S; Becnel, Jennifer N (2008) The mediational role of adolescents'friends in relations between activity breadth and adjustment. Dev Psychol 44:1081-94
Denissen, Jaap J A; Zarrett, Nicole R; Eccles, Jacquelynne S (2007) I like to do it, I'm able, and I know I am: longitudinal couplings between domain-specific achievement, self-concept, and interest. Child Dev 78:430-47
Simpkins, Sandra D; Davis-Kean, Pamela E; Eccles, Jacquelynne S (2006) Math and science motivation: A longitudinal examination of the links between choices and beliefs. Dev Psychol 42:70-83
Simpkins, Sandra D; Davis-Kean, Pamela E (2005) The intersection between self-concepts and values: links between beliefs and choices in high school. New Dir Child Adolesc Dev :31-47
Simpkins, Sandra D; Ripke, Marika; Huston, Aletha C et al. (2005) Predicting participation and outcomes in out-of-school activities: similarities and differences across social ecologies. New Dir Youth Dev :51-69, 10-1

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