Need-supportive teaching and student engagement in the classroom: Comparing the additive, synergistic, and global contributions

Olivier, Elizabeth;Galand, Benoît;Morin, Alexandre;Hospel, Virginie
(2021) Learning and Instruction — Vol. 71, p. 101389 (2021)

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Authors
  • Olivier, Elizabeth
    Author
  • Author
  • Morin, Alexandre
    Author
  • Hospel, Virginie
    Author
Abstract
This study contrasts three hypotheses to determine the best configuration of teacher need-supporting practices (autonomy support, structure, and involvement) in terms of classroom-levels of behavioral, emotional, and cognitive engagement. Multilevel analyses were conducted among a sample of 1,193 8th grade Belgian students nested in 57 math classrooms. Results failed to support the additive hypothesis (H1), which anticipated that all three practices would be associated with classroom-levels of engagement when jointly considered. Results also failed to support the synergistic hypothesis (H2), which predicted that the greatest benefits would emerge in classrooms characterized by a high level of two or three of these practices. Finally, results supported the global hypothesis (H3), which anticipated that the global level taken across the three practices—captured by a global factor—would provide optimal support to classroom-levels of engagement. Specific factors representing the imbalance in autonomy support, structure, and involvement also contributed to some aspects of classroom-levels of engagement.
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Citations

Olivier, E., Galand, B., Morin, A., & Hospel, V. (2021). Need-supportive teaching and student engagement in the classroom: Comparing the additive, synergistic, and global contributions. Learning and Instruction, 71, 101389. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.learninstruc.2020.101389 (Original work published 2021)