Gender, planning, and academic expectations in first-year higher education students: testing two alternative mediation models

Abstract We examined the relationships among gender, planning, and academic expectations through the testing of two alternative models with latent variables tested with LISREL 8.80: one model considered planning as a mediator of the relationship between gender and academic expectations, and the other model considered academic expectations as mediators of the relationship between gender and planning. Participants were 662 first-year higher-education students from two academic years, predominantly female (60%) and mainly with majors in the juridical-social field (66.2%). The Inventario sobre Estrategias Metacognitivas (IEM; Inventory of Metacognitive Strategies) and the Academic Perceptions Questionnaire (APQ) were applied at the beginning of the first semester to assess planning and academic expectations, respectively. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis was used to test the IEM's structure after examining its psychometric properties with the sample from the first academic year (N = 338). The test of the alternative mediation models with the full sample indicates that the best model was that with planning as a mediator. In this model, gender directly predicted only two APQ academic expectations, but with the mediation of planning, gender predicted all seven academic expectations. Women showed higher levels of academic expectations and planning than did men. The results are discussed at both the theoretical and practical levels.

Equivalencia factorial de las versiones en español y portugués de un cuestionario de expectativas académicas / Factorial equivalence of the Spanish and Portuguese versions of a questionnaire of academic expectations

Resumen Este estudio presenta los resultados de una investigación sobre expectativas académicas de estudiantes universitarios de primer año de Enseñanza Superior (ES) pertenecientes al norte de Portugal y noroeste de España. Su objetivo es replicar las propiedades psicométricas del instrumento utilizado obtenidas con una versión anterior del mismo. La muestra está integrada por 1.268 estudiantes de primer año de ES con edades comprendidas entre los 17 y 52 años (Mdn = 18, siendo de más de 23 años el 7.4%). Proceden de la región noroeste de España 413 estudiantes (Galicia, Universidad de Vigo) y 855 de la región norte de Portugal (Minho, Universidade do Minho). El 58.1% del total de la muestra son mujeres. Por ámbito de estudio, el 58.4% cursa titulaciones del ámbito científico-tecnológico y los demás del ámbito jurídico-social. Se aplicó el Cuestionario de Percepciones Académicas-Expectativas (CPA-E), estructurado en siete dimensiones: Formación para el empleo/carrera, Desarrollo personal y social, Movilidad estudiantil, Implicación político/ciudadana, Presión social, Calidad de formación e Interacción social. La invarianza del modelo factorial oblicuo del CPA-E fue testada con el LISREL 8.80 mediante el método bivariado latente normal y la estimación de máxima verosimilitud, con la corrección de Satorra y Bentler (1994). Todos los ítems representaron bien a sus respectivos factores y los factores mostraron una buena validez y fiabilidad para los países y el género. Se obtuvo, por tanto, invarianza factorial del modelo para los países y el género. Se asume una versión final del cuestionario común para España y Portugal, así como para mujeres y hombres.

Abstract We present the results of a study conducted with first-year students from the Euro-region of Galicia-North Portugal, with the aim of replicating the psychometric properties of the instrument as obtained from a prior version. Participants included 1268 first-year students with ages ranging from 17 to 52 years (Mdn = 18; 7.4% with ages above 23 years). Four-hundred and thirteen students are from the North Spanish region (Galicia, University of Minho) and 855 are from the North Portuguese region (Minho, University of Minho), and 58.1% of the students are women. Students are enrolled in scientific-technological courses (58.4%) and juridical-social studies. We administered the Academic Perceptions Questionnaire- Expectations (APQ-E), which is structured in seven dimensions: Training for career development, Personal and social development, Student mobility, Political engagement and citizenship, Social pressure, Training quality, and Social interaction. The invariance of the factorial model of the APQ-E was tested with LISREL 8.80, based on a bivariate latent model and maximum likelihood estimation, with Satorra and Bentler correction (1994). All items contributed to the representation of the factors, and the factors showed good validity and reliability for country and gender. Therefore, we obtained factorial invariance of the measurement model for country and gender. We present the final version of the common questionnaire for Portugal and Spain, and for women and men.

Perceived motor ability and selection, optimization, and compensation: effects of age and institutionalization / Capacidade motora percebida e seleção, otimização e compensação: efeitos da idade e da institucionalização / Capacidad motora percibida y selección, optimización y compensación: efectos de la edad y de la institucionalización

The authors examined the mediation effect of the perceived motor ability (PMA) on the direct "effects" of age (third vs. fourth age) and residential status (institutionalized vs. communitarians) on selection, optimization, and compensation (SOC) strategies. With a non-probabilistic sample of 107 elders (Mdn = 80 years) from urban areas, and controlled for cognitive impairment and depression, the authors analysed the structural component of the path model with latent constructs that represents those relationships. This was made only after the structural validity of the constructs had been assured. Constructs were operationalized through the PMA questionnaire and a 16-item version of the SOC questionnaire. Only age had direct effects on the constructs: lower PMA and lower SOC of the elders in the fourth age. Authors also verified that the PMA mediation effect was partial.

Neste artigo examinou-se o "efeito" de mediação da capacidade motora percebida (CMP) nos efeitos diretos da idade (terceira vs. quarta idade) e do estatuto residencial (institucionalizados vs. comunitários) sobre estratégias de seleção, otimização e compensação (SOC). Com uma amostra não probabilística de 107 idosos (Mdn = 80 anos) residentes em meio urbano e controlados para demência e depressão, procedeu-se à análise da componente estrutural do modelo de trajetórias com construtos latentes que representa essas relações. Isto só foi feito depois de garantida a validade estrutural dos construtos, operacionalizados através do Questionário de CMP e de uma versão de 16 itens do Questionário SOC. Só a idade teve efeitos diretos sobre os construtos: menor CMP e menor SOC dos idosos na quarta idade. A CMP teve um efeito direto sobre as estratégias SOC: quanto menor CMP, menor SOC. Verificou-se, ainda, que o efeito de mediação da CMP foi parcial.

En este artículo se examinó el "efecto" de mediación de la capacidad motora percibida (CMP) en los efectos directos de la edad (tercera vs. cuarta edad) y del ámbito residencial (institucionalizados vs. comunitarios) sobre estrategias de selección, optimización y compensación (SOC). Con una muestra no probabilística de 107 ancianos (Mdn = 80 años) residentes en medio urbano y controlados para demencia y depresión, se procedió el análisis del componente estructural del modelo de trayectorias con constructos latentes que representan estas relaciones. Eso fue hecho después de garantizada la validez estructural de los constructos, operacionalizados a través del Cuestionario de CMP y de una versión de 16 ítems del Cuestionario SOC. Sólo la edad tuvo efectos directos sobre los constructos: menor CMP y menor SOC de los ancianos en la cuarta edad. La CMP tuvo un efecto directo sobre las estrategias SOC: cuanto menor CMP, menor SOC. Se verificó, aún, que el efecto de mediación de la CMP fue parcial.

Variáveis da primeira fase da integração universitária e mudança de curso / Variables of the first half of college integration and change of major

Estudou-se a relação entre variáveis académicas e psicossociais da primeira fase da integração universitária (escolha e colocação num curso) e a Mudança de Curso (MC). As análises bivariadas dos dados de uma amostra de conveniência de 375 estudantes do primeiro ano mostraram que mudaram mais frequentemente de curso aqueles que: tinham Notas de Candidatura (NC) ao Ensino Superior mais baixas; frequentavam cursos ligados a Recursos Tecnológicos (RT); e, atribuíam menor importância aos Determinantes Intrínsecos (DI) na escolha de curso (competências e interesses). Para operacionalizar esta última variável recorreu-se à Escala de Determinantes da Escolha de Curso (EDEC). Entretanto, as variáveis atrás referidas, bem como as outras duas dimensões da EDEC (Agentes Mediadores e Estrutura Ocupacional), também discriminavam os estudantes de acordo com Género. Presume-se, então, que o Género se relaciona indirectamente com a MC, através da interveniência das variáveis NC, Área de Estudos e DI.

This study concerned the relationship between academic and psychosocial variables of the first half of college integration (choice and admission to a major) and the Change of Major (CM). Bivariate analyses of data collected using a convenience sample of 375 freshman students showed that those who had changed major more frequently were those who: had lower Access Grades (AG) to Higher Education; were from majors in the field of Technological Resources (TR); and, gave less importance to Intrinsic Determinants (ID) in the choice of major (skills, interests). The latter variable was measured by the Escala de Determinantes da Escolha de Curso (EDEC) [Choice of Major Determinants Scale]. The variables above, as well as the other two dimensions of EDEC (Mediation Agents and Occupational Structure), also significantly discriminated students by gender. Then, we presume that gender is indirectly related to CM, through the mediation of AG, Field of Studies, and ID.

Contextos profissionais e práticas da avaliação psicológica: inquéritos aos psicólogos portugueses / Professional contexts and psychological assessment pactices: a survey among Portuguese psychologists

A crescente preocupação com os aspectos técnicos e éticos da avaliação psicológica, em particular da utilização de técnicas de avaliação, tem-se reflectido na importância que lhes é internacionalmente atribuída. Neste enquadramento, procurámos descrever as percepções e as práticas dos psicólogos portugueses quanto à avaliação psicológica. Com base num inquérito nacional junto de psicólogos (N = 1259), respondido por 265 participantescom mais de três anos de actividade, descrevemo-los quanto ao percurso de formação, contexto profissional e utilização de técnicas de avaliação, e cruzámos as variáveis tempo e contextos de actividade com a utilização, e o valor e percepções quanto ao uso das técnicas. Destacamos a percepção positiva relativamente à formação recebidana área da avaliação psicológica, mesmo afirmando a necessidade de formação complementar ou o desconhecimento das orientações internacionais sobre o uso das provas (lacuna mais evidente no contexto escolar). As inovações passam, sobretudo, pelo recurso à informatização/novas tecnologias.

The growing attention given to the use of psychological assessment techniques is reflected on the importance attributed to it internationally. Our study is inscribed in this movement. We aim to characterize the use of psychological assessment techniques in Portugal, through data from a national survey of practicing psychologists (N= 1259). Responses were collected from 265 participants with more than three years of activity, and analysed in terms of graduation course, professional context and use of psychological assessment techniques. Then, we cross variables such as time practice and professional contexts with data referring to the use, and to the value and perceptions about psychological assessment techniques utilisation. Results suggest a positive perception about the adequacy of academic preparation on psychological assessment, although feeling the necessity of further preparationand unknowing the international standards concerning tests utilization (namely school psychologists). The principal innovation to consider is the wider utilization informatics/new technologies.