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The Role of Self-Efficacy and Connectedness in the Academic Success of Chinese Learners

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The Psychology of Asian Learners

Abstract

Chinese learners have frequently demonstrated academic achievement that outshines their Western counterparts—but paradoxically research has suggested that various nurturing, teaching, and learning conditions in the Chinese context are often believed in the West to be unfavorable to learning. Against this background, the chapter revisits this paradox by drawing upon research and current theories of motivation and learning. Through a cultural lens, the authors discuss pertinent personal and social-contextual factors influencing Chinese learners’ academic success. In particular, attention is directed to learners’ self-efficacy and connectedness. The chapter offers a picture of how Chinese learners are actually nurtured and identifies some culturally sensitive notions in the research literature. The arguments here should alert researchers and practitioners to some key cultural differences when interpreting research and practice.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Curriculum and Instruction, The Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China

    Ricci W. Fong

  2. Centre for Advancement in Inclusive and Special Education, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China

    Man Tak Yuen

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  1. Ricci W. Fong
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  2. Man Tak Yuen
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Correspondence to Ricci W. Fong .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Curriculum and Instruction, The Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong SAR, China

    Ronnel B. King

  2. Department of Psychology Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China

    Allan B. I. Bernardo

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Fong, R.W., Yuen, M.T. (2016). The Role of Self-Efficacy and Connectedness in the Academic Success of Chinese Learners. In: King, R., Bernardo, A. (eds) The Psychology of Asian Learners. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-576-1_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-576-1_10

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-287-575-4

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