Examining the multidimensional role of self-efficacy for writing on student writing self-regulation and grades in elementary and high school.

BACKGROUND: The powerful role of self-efficacy on student achievement is clear. Less clear, however, is our understanding of the specific roles of the different factors of writing self-efficacy on student writing self-regulation and success. AIMS: This study expands our knowledge about student writing self-efficacy - including its dimensions and the relationship between its dimensions and practical writing outcomes with students from different age groups. SAMPLE: Participants were 992 elementary and 518 high school students across 65 teachers and 6 schools in the United States. METHODS: Data were collected via online questionnaires, one assessing student writing self-efficacy and the others teachers' reports of student writing self-regulation and writing/ELA grades. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) results demonstrated significantly improved model fit for a three-factor model of writing self-efficacy compared to a one-factor model. A measurement invariance analysis of the writing self-efficacy scale indicated scalar invariance between the elementary and secondary samples. Structural equation modelling (SEM) results indicated that the second self-efficacy factor, self-efficacy for writing conventions, was statistically significantly related to writing/ELA grades for elementary students (ß = .33, p < .001) as well as for high school students (ß = .27, p < .01). Conventions were also the only factor statistically significantly related to teacher-reported student writing self-regulation for both elementary students (ß = .26, p < .01) and high school students (ß = .37, p < .001). Self-efficacy for ideation and self-efficacy for self-regulation were not found to be significantly related to either student writing/ELA grades or teacher-reported self-regulation (all ps > .19). CONCLUSIONS: Results support the multidimensionality of writing self-efficacy. In addition, findings emphasize a meaningful link between students' beliefs in their ability to conform to the rules of writing and their writing self-regulation and success.

Literature based species occurrence data of birds of northeast India.

The northeast region of India is one of the world's most significant biodiversity hotspots. One of the richest bird areas in India, it is an important route for migratory birds and home to many endemic bird species. This paper describes a literature-based dataset of species occurrences of birds of northeast India. The occurrence records documented in the dataset are distributed across eleven states of India, viz.: Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. The geospatial scope of the dataset represents 24 to 29 degree North latitude and 78 to 94 degree East longitude, and it comprises over 2400 occurrence records. These records have been collated from scholarly literature published between1915 and 2008, especially from the Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society (JBNHS). The temporal scale of the dataset represents bird observations recorded between 1909 and 2007. The dataset has been developed by employing MS Excel. The key elements in the database are scientific name, taxonomic classification, temporal and geospatial details including geo-coordinate precision, data collector, basis of record and primary source of the data record. The temporal and geospatial quality of more than 50% of the data records has been enhanced retrospectively. Where possible, data records are annotated with geospatial coordinate precision to the nearest minute. This dataset is being constantly updated with the addition of new data records, and quality enhancement of documented occurrences. The dataset can be used in species distribution and niche modeling studies. It is planned to expand the scope of the dataset to collate bird species occurrences across the Indian peninsula.