• Korean Journal of Child Studies
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.87-101
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• 2011

This study employed a child-centered approach in the examination of patterns of preschooler's learning behaviors. A hierarchical cluster analysis was employed in order to discern a meaningful typology of such behavior. The subjects consisted of 232 children (117 boys, 106 girls) and their mothers from 6 kindergartens and 6 day care centers. The results of this study were as follows. The cluster analysis yielded five types of learning behaviors; the competent type, the average type, the low attention/persistence type, the low motivation -attitude type, and the deficient type. The most consistent level differences among these types appeared to lie in distinctions among the average Attention/Persistence scores. The composition of the cluster types, including both the age and gender of the children, was ascertained. Our results indicated that preschool learning behavior types could be seen to differentially relate to children's self-regulation, cognitive styles, problem behaviors, and the level of maternal involvement. It was revealed that a child's characteristics was more important than maternal involvement and beliefs. As there were more girls and older children in the learning type, this type was seen to be more competent.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.37-59
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• 2004

This study examines longitudinally influences that parents have on their children's academic achievement and the mediating role of various psychological factors. In terms of parents-child relationship, the following variables are examined: Social support from parents, achievement pressure, parental expectation, sense of indebtedness to parents, and respect for parents. For adolescents functioning, the following variables are examined: Efficacy for self-regulated learning, achievement motivation, studying time, and academic achievement. In the first phase of the longitudinal study, a total of 961 Grade 6 students completed a questionnaire. In the second phrase, a total of 856 students completed a questionnaire when they were Grade 7. In the third phrase, a total of 830 students completed a questionnaire when they were Grade 9. In the third phase, a matched sample of 722 fathers and 767 mothers of the adolescents completed a questionnaire. From the sample, 694 matched sample of adolescents, mothers, and fathers have been selected for the following analysis. The results of the path analysis indicate that adolescents' past academic grade was the most powerful predictor of adolescents' current academic achievement. Second, a sense of indebtedness felt towards the parents increased adolescents' achievement motivation, which increased their studying time and which in turn positively affected their academic achievement. Third, adolescents' respect for their parents increased their efficacy for self-regulated learning, which had a positive effect on their academic achievement. Fourth, parental social support increased adolescents' efficacy for self-regulated learning and parental achievement pressure increased adolescents' achievement motivation. Fifth, parental expectation had positive influence on adolescents' academic achievement. Sixth, efficacy for self-regulated learning had direct positive influence on academic achievement. These results indicate that the past achievement is the most important predictor of adolescents' current academic achievement and parent-child relationship and efficacy for self-regulated learning are also important variables that influence adolescents' achievement.