The use of game elements as a means to stimulate students’ motivation has increased in a number of disciplines across theworld after 2010, but apart from a few exceptional cases, it has not been possible to show a significant effect on academicachievement. In this study, the effects of game elements on academic achievement have been investigated among 458 studentsin a teacher education program, distributed across 10 course instances over 11 years (2010–2020). Statistical analyses indi-cated that a game element consisting of a number of hand-in assignments contributed significantly to the total points of thefinal written exam. Although a comparison with the students’ results in the two previous modules showed that two thirds ofthe positive effect could be explained by selection, the remaining one third of the positive effect could still be explained interms of the game elements significantly improving the achievements on the final written exam.

The purpose was to investigate the association between disability, and psychosomatic problems among adolescents at compulsory regular school also taking into account parental and student achievement expectations and student self-efficacy. We analysed cross-sectional questionnaire data collected in 2010, from 2004 Swedish adolescents. The results showed that the degree of psychosomatic problems and self-efficacy varied with regard to whether the adolescent reported having a disability or not. The distribution of parents’ and adolescents’ own achievement expectations did not differ significantly with regard to having a disability. Neither achievement expectations nor self-efficacy did moderate the association between disability and psychosomatic problems.

Aim

School related determinants (e.g. student motivation and goals) may be important for student achievement as well as their mental health. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyse the links between two goal orientations (mastery and performance) and psychosomatic health problems by investigating the general patterns as well as the patterns for specific classifications of students, in particular by investigating the potential statistical interaction effects by gender.

Subject and methods

Swedish nationally representative data among 4573 school year 9 students (15–16 years old) responding to the Evaluation Through Follow-up (ETF) questionnaire, in 2014, were used. Linear regression analysis as well as multinomial logistic regression were applied in order to address the research questions.

Results

Both the mastery orientation and the performance orientation are independently associated with adolescent psychosomatic health problems. The links between these goal orientations and psychosomatic health show different patterns. The mastery goal orientation may be considered a protective factor as there is a negative link to psychosomatic problems; the performance orientation may be considered a risk factor due to the positive association with psychosomatic health problems. The effect of performance orientation on psychosomatic health complaints was significantly stronger for girls (OR = 4.28) compared to boys (OR = 2.04). In particular, low mastery/high performance students may be at risk for experiencing poor psychosomatic health.

Conclusion

Adolescent psychosomatic health may be improved by the encouragement of student goals related to adaptive and successful goal profiles such as mastery orientation.

In previous studies, social context and social support have been found to be important in nature-based services. However, no studies have previously focused on the meaning of different dimensions of social support in these contexts. The aim of this study is therefore to uncover dimensions of social support in relation to mental health among young adults with mental health problems participating in nature-based services in Norway. This study applies data from a survey of 93 young adults participating in nature-based services; in addition, qualitative interview data from 20 interviews are also used. The data are analysed using qualitative content analysis, descriptive statistics, and correlation analysis. The results indicate that participants in nature-based services experience emotional, esteem, informational, and instrumental support in addition to social integration and opportunities for nurturance in these services. The service leader, other participants, and the animals are important contributors to these dimensions of social support. Nature-based services may be a helpful intervention for young adults with mental health problems. The unique context of these services, including nature and animals, adds special qualities to mental health and social work practices.

Research on social aspects of academic motivation is scarce. Based on twonationally representative cohorts within the Swedish longitudinal ETFproject,the study examined (a) relationships between academicmastery/performance, social and future achievement goal orientations inthe Swedish grade 9 compulsory school (2008/2014); (b) theirimplications for academic achievement; (c) interaction effects by genderand parental education. Social responsibility exerts the strongest effecton achievement; independently and combined. Girls strive for thesegoals more often than boys. All orientations are important forachievement; and for disadvantaged students in particular. The findingsare important for interventions on enhancing motivation and reducingachievement gaps between student groups.

This study explores how teachers perceive the working conditions for planning and preparing their lessons, focusing on collegial collaboration and systematic and formative teaching. The data were collected through a survey (n = 2285) on infrastructure for teaching development and time for planning and preparation. The results show a systematic correlation between a supportive, collegial structure for planning and preparation and teachers' validation of their teaching and working conditions. However, our findings also indicate that collaborative work is insufficient to support efficient formative teaching and that there are general shortfalls in the infrastructural settings around teachers' planning and preparation. (C) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

In the Achievement Goal Theory, different reasons for learning are contrasted. Mastery and Performance are most commonly used while less attention is paid to Social Responsibility goal orientations, despite that this is an integral part of many curricula. The purpose of this chapter is to examine the psychometric properties of a scale of Social Responsibility goal orientation by means of the polytomous Rasch model. The analysis is based on longitudinal data among Swedish students. One cohort (born 1992) of students in school year 9 (15-16 years old) were subjected to analysis. In total, 6,010 students responded to a paper-and-pencil questionnaire. A scale consisting of six polytomous items is analysed. General-fit statistics as well as their graphical representations (ICC) are used to evaluate the fit to the Rasch model. The social responsibility scale seems to fit the Rasch model fairly well, with good separation of individuals, and showing no reversed item thresholds, i.e., the response categories work as intended. However, there are indications of Differential Item Functioning (DIF) by gender and local dependency.

The study investigated student experiences of teaching practices in grade 9 at 2003, 2008 and 2014 after the Swedish education reforms of the 1990s. Teaching practices in both municipal and independent schools were related to student achievement and family background. Data from three nationally representative cohorts within the ongoing Swedish longitudinal ETF-project have been used. The results show changes from more conventional to more individualistic teaching practices. Independent schools emphasize more self-regulated learning. Child-centred forms of work are though found to be equally beneficial for student achievement as more conventional teaching methods. In spite of education reforms, family background is equally important for student achievement as earlier. Obtained results are discussed in relation to increased school competition in Sweden.

I denna rapport beskrivs de huvudsakliga resultaten från en enkätstudie om hur lärare i svensk skola uppfattar sina förutsättningar att planeraoch efterarbeta sina lektioner. Studien visar för det första att de flesta lärare inte har organiserad tid för kollegialt samarbete runt planering och efterarbete av lektioner. För det andra visar studien att när det finns organiserat samarbete så är lärarna betydligt mer positiva till sin arbetsmiljö och sina möjligheter att planera och efterarbeta sina lektioner. För det tredje visar studien att skolor i liten utsträckning arbetar med formativ undervisning. Detta även på skolor med tid för organiserat samarbete. Sammantaget tyder resultaten på att vissa grundläggande förutsättningar för en skola på vetenskaplig grund saknas.