An analysis of the psychometric properties of the writing-specific cognitive strategies questionnaire for undergraduate students.

Writing strategies are needed to manage the complexity of writing tasks, especially at university, where writing tasks are for learning, professional, or scientific purposes and are highly demanding. The literature shows that many undergraduate students have defined, stable, writing strategies, although some lack proper strategic development and require explicit instruction in this regard. In both cases, adapting writing tasks to undergraduate students' preferences and instructing them effectively requires understanding their writing strategies, which will encourage optimal learning and writing proficiency. This is why valid, reliable, writing strategy assessment tools are essential. The present study focused on the validation of the Spanish Writing Strategies Questionnaire-Undergraduate Students (WSQ-SU), aimed at measuring undergraduate students' preferences for using different writing strategies. The sample comprised 978 Spanish undergraduates doing degrees in Infant, Primary or Social Education, Pedagogy and Psychology. The data from the questionnaire was explored by means of exploratory and confirmatory analysis, test-retest reliability to analyse temporal stability and convergent validity. Two factors, planning and revising, were identified through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, representing different writing strategies and supporting the original model. The results indicated adequate test-retest reliability and temporal stability. The results also showed the questionnaire's convergent validity; a direct, linear correlation between two factors and off-line planning and revising variables. Based on the results, the WSQ for undergraduate students-Spanish version has been shown to be a reliable and valid, scale that can be easily applied in the university context to explore undergraduate students' writing strategies.

Validación de la Escala de Eficacia Docente para la Escritura en el Contexto Educativo Español / Validation of the Teacher Efficacy Scale for Writing in the Spanish educational context

Este estudio se centra en adaptar y validar la escala Teacher Efficacy Scale for Writing al contexto educativo español. Participaron en el estudio 452 profesores de Lengua Castellana y Literatura de la Educación Obligatoria. Se analiza un modelo factorial de dicha escala constituido por 2 factores, eficacia general y eficacia personal, constituido este último por dos subfactores. Asimismo, se compara el ajuste factorial del modelo propuesto frente al modelo tradicional bidimensional y se analiza la invarianza de este en base al género y nivel educativo en el que imparten docencia los participantes. Los resultados obtenidos confirman un buen ajuste de los datos al modelo factorial propuesto y la invarianza factorial del mismo según las características de los participantes. Por tanto, la Escala de Eficacia Docente para la Escritura se puede considerar una herramienta de rápida aplicación, válida y fiable para determinar la eficacia docente hacia la escritura en el profesorado español.

In this study, we adapt and validate the Teacher Efficacy Scale for Writing to the Spanish educational context. The study participants comprised 452 teachers of Spanish language and literature from compulsory education. We analyse a factorial model of the scale with two factors, personal efficacy and general efficacy, and two sub-factors within the personal efficacy factor. We also compare the fit of the proposed factorial model to the traditional 2-factor model and analyse the factorial invariance of the model with respect to participants’ gender and educational level. Our results confirm that the proposed factorial model has a good fit to the data as well as its factorial invariance with respect to the sample characteristics. The Escala de Eficacia Docente para la Escritura is a valid, reliable, easy-to-use instrument for assessing teacher efficacy for writing in Spanish teachers.

Validation of the Writing Strategies Questionnaire in the Context of Primary Education: A Multidimensional Measurement Model.

Research has shown that writers seem to follow different writing strategies to juggle the high cognitive demands of writing. The use of writing strategies seems to be an important cognitive writing-related variable which has an influence on students' writing behavior during writing and, therefore, on the quality of their compositions. Several studies have tried to assess students' writing preferences toward the use of different writing strategies in University or high-school students, while research in primary education is practically non-existent. The present study, therefore, focused on the validation of the Spanish Writing Strategies Questionnaire (WSQ-SP), aimed to measure upper-primary students' preference for the use of different writing strategies, through a multidimensional model. The sample comprised 651 Spanish upper-primary students. Questionnaire data was explored by means of exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory (CFA) factor analysis. Through exploratory factor analysis four factors were identified, labeled thinking, planning, revising, and monitoring, which represent different writing strategies. The confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the adequacy of the four-factor model, with a sustainable model composed of the four factors originally identified. Based on the analysis, the final questionnaire was composed of 16 items. According to the results, the Spanish version of the Writing Strategies Questionnaire (WSQ-SP) for upper-primary students has been shown to be a valid and reliable instrument, which can be easily applied in the educational context to explore upper-primary students' writing strategies.

Identifying Gifted Children: Congruence among Different IQ Measures.

This study has two main aims: (1) analysing the relationship between intellectual capacities and levels of creativity in a sample of Spanish students from the third and sixth grades; and (2) examining the discrimination capacities and degree of congruence among different tests of intellectual ability that are commonly used to identify high-ability students. The study sample comprised 236 primary school students. Participants completed different tests of intellectual ability, which were based on both fluid and crystallized intelligence, as well as creativity. Results indicated that it is advisable to use varying tests in the assessment process, and a complementary measure (i.e., creativity) in order to create a multi-criteria means of detection that can more efficiently distinguish this population of students.

Comparison of reading-writing patterns and performance of students with and without reading difficulties / Comparación de los patrones de lectura-escritura y el rendimiento de alumnos con y sin dificultades de lectura

BACKGROUND: This paper analyses performance and the process used in carrying out a common hybrid task, such as, summarizing a text, from a developmental point of view and comparing the differences between students with and without reading difficulties. METHOD: 548 students typically developing and 54 students with learning difficulties for reading (grades 5 to 8, ages 11 to 14) read and summarized a text using the triple task technique and then they did a comprehension questionnaire. Attention was paid to the various activities undertaken during this task, their cognitive cost, and the organization of reading and writing activities throughout the exercise, together with performance through evaluation of the summary and the reading comprehension questionnaire. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in performance or strategies used for the task between students of primary and secondary education. A linear reading-writing process was mostly employed by both, with greater cost and time needed by primary students. Students with reading difficulties did not show any strategies compensating for the greater difficulty and cognitive cost that the task represents for them. CONCLUSIONS: The effective and strategic use of summarizing as a learning tool seems to demand a specific training for students with or without reading difficulties

ANTECEDENTES: se analiza el rendimiento y el proceso seguido en la realización de una tarea híbrida, resumir un texto, desde un punto de vista del desarrollo y comparativamente entre alumnos con y sin dificultades en lectura. MÉTODO: 548 estudiantes de rendimiento normal y 54 con dificultades en el aprendizaje de la lectura (5º de Primaria a 2º de Secundaria, 11 a 14 años) realizaron la lectura y resumen de un texto, junto a la técnica de la triple tarea, y posteriormente un cuestionario de comprensión lectora. Se analizaron el tipo de actividades realizadas durante la tarea, su coste cognitivo, la distribución de los procesos de lectura y escritura, y el nivel de comprensión lectora. RESULTADOS: no hubo diferencias estadísticamente significativas en el rendimiento o las estrategias usadas durante la tarea entre el alumnado de Primaria y de Secundaria; solo los primeros emplearon un mayor tiempo en la tarea, con un mayor coste cognitivo. Los alumnos con dificultades no mostraron ningún tipo de estrategia para compensar sus dificultades y el mayor coste cognitivo de este tipo de tarea. CONCLUSIONES: el uso estratégico del resumen como herramienta de aprendizaje demanda un entrenamiento específico en alumnado con y sin dificultades

Comparison of reading-writing patterns and performance of students with and without reading difficulties.

BACKGROUND: This paper analyses performance and the process used in carrying out a common hybrid task, such as, summarizing a text, from a developmental point of view and comparing the differences between students with and without reading difficulties. METHOD: 548 students typically developing and 54 students with learning difficulties for reading (grades 5 to 8, ages 11 to 14) read and summarized a text using the triple task technique and then they did a comprehension questionnaire. Attention was paid to the various activities undertaken during this task, their cognitive cost, and the organization of reading and writing activities throughout the exercise, together with performance through evaluation of the summary and the reading comprehension questionnaire. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in performance or strategies used for the task between students of primary and secondary education. A linear reading-writing process was mostly employed by both, with greater cost and time needed by primary students. Students with reading difficulties did not show any strategies compensating for the greater difficulty and cognitive cost that the task represents for them. CONCLUSIONS: The effective and strategic use of summarizing as a learning tool seems to demand a specific training for students with or without reading difficulties.

Implicaciones educativas de los modelos teóricos del proceso de revisión textual / No disponible

Actualmente, se considera la escritura como una actividad compleja que implica tres grandes procesos: planificar, editar y revisar; así, se considera la revisión como uno de los componentes centrales e importantes de la composición escrita, afectando al conocimiento del escritor e incidiendo en la calidad de los textos producidos, tal y como de forma consensuada indican los diferentes modelos generales de la escritura y enfoques psicológicos. El objetivo de este trabajo, es revisar las bondades, limitaciones, aplicaciones e implicaciones del procedimiento CDO de revisión textual, dada su importancia y complejidad, al ser considerado como un proceso recursivo a lo largo de todo el proceso de escritura; así como el hecho de que los estudiantes no revisan de forma espontánea, afectando esto a su rendimiento y éxito escolar, entre otros ámbitos, del mismo modo que inciden otros factores y variables personales como la motivación y la autorregulación

Nowadays writing is considered a complex activity that consists of three processes: planning, translating and reviewing. Revision is considered an important component of writing. According to several writing frameworks, revision is a recursive process along the writing process, it affects to textual quality and writer’s knowledge. In general, novice writers or students with learning disabilities do not spontaneously revise their composition, and which has repercussions on their school yield. Aim of this paper is to know the importance, advantages, limitations and implications of CDO procedure about textual revision

La psicología del desarrollo y de la educación en los últimos quince años de Psicothema / Developmental and educational psychology in Psicothema during the last 15 years

Se hace un análisis de contenido de los últimos quince años de Psicothema a partir de los artículos publicados en la revista con contenidos de psicología del desarrollo y de la educación. Tras registrar y codificar los datos, según los criterios previamente elaborados, se extraen tres tipos de variables: de identificación formal o por criterios externos (autores, procedencia, período, etc.), de clasificación por criterios internos o de contenido (origen y tipo de artículo, metodología de investigación, marcos teóricos de referencia y tematización) y ciclo temporal en la publicación de los artículos. Se identifican 171 artículos, sobre un total de 1.134 (15,08%), en los cuales han participado un total de 337 autores de 52 instituciones y universidades diferentes. Se observa un proceso de participación diversificada de autores y procedencias y de asunción de los estándares internacionales. Se discuten los resultados y se propone la búsqueda de metas adecuadas para los próximos años

A content analysis of 15 years of Psicothema is undertaken based on the papers about developmental and educational contents published by the journal. After registering and coding the data according to previously established criteria, three types of variables are obtained: Formal identification or by external criteria (authors, origin, period, etc.); classification by internal criteria or by content (paper source and genre, research methodology, theoretical approach, and topic); and time period for publication. 171 papers are identified, of a total of 1134 (15,08 %), where a total of 337 authors from 52 differents institutions and universities have participated. We observe an increased process of participation and diversification of author and origins and of assumption of international standards. We discuss the results and propose the searching of appropriate goals for the next years

Intervención en estrategias de revisión del mensaje escrito / Intervention in writing composition strategies

Se presenta una intervención en procesos de revisión del mensaje escrito en un aula de 1° de ESO, ordinaria y de informática (con ordenador), compuesta por 16 alumnos comparada con otros dos grupos (control) que sólo recibieron curriculum ordinario. La intervención consistió en la aplicación de un programa de planificación del proceso y del texto focalizado en los procesos de revisión, durante un curso escolar, una sesión a la semana en horario escolar de Lengua. Se obtiene una mejoría significativa del grupo experimental en productividad y coherencia en la redacción, pero no en la descripción ni en la narración (que requieren menor esfuerzo mental), y en la disposición reflexiva. Los datos sugieren la automatización de 1ª revisión de aspectos mecánicos y aumento del control de los sustantivos, debido posiblemente al uso del ordenador y de lápiz y papel, y por la aplicación minuciosa de las estrategias de revisión indicado por la mejora de la redacción y de la reflexividad hacia la escritura. Se sugiere la necesidad de estudios adicionales más específicos en el diseño de tareas de revisión y de intervención considerando aspectos separados y concretos de la misma (AU)

We present an intervention in writing revision proccesses in a 1st High School classroom, ordinary and computational lessons, composed by 16 students, compared with another two groups (control) whom only received ordinary curriculum. The intervention consisted in the implementation of a process and text planing program focused on revision processes, during a school year, a weekly session into school language timetable. We reached a significative improvement of the experimental group in productivity and coherence in essay task, but not in description nor narration (which require less mental effort), and in reflective disposition. These data suggest that automatization of mechanical aspects of revision and improvement of control of substantive ones, possibly because of computer and pen and pencil uses, and because of the over-exact application of revision estrategies, indicated by essays improvement and writing reflectivity. The need of more specifically additional studies in revision tasks desing and intervention considering its splinter and concrete aspects is suggested (AU)