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A Person-Centered Approach to Action-Control Beliefs of Students with Special Educational Needs and Their Relation to Student Performance and Time on Task

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Title: A Person-Centered Approach to Action-Control Beliefs of Students with Special Educational Needs and Their Relation to Student Performance and Time on Task
Language: English
Authors: Laura Nyman (ORCID 0000-0001-9293-0237), Satu Koivuhovi, Samuel Greiff, Risto Hotulainen, Todd D. Little, Mari-Pauliina Vainikainen
Source: Journal of Educational Psychology. 2026 118(3):421-443.
Availability: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 23
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Grade 9
High Schools
Junior High Schools
Middle Schools
Secondary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Special Needs Students, Special Education, Time on Task, Profiles, Student Motivation, Goal Orientation, Beliefs, Grade 9, Student Behavior
Geographic Terms: Finland
DOI: 10.1037/edu0001000
ISSN: 0022-0663
1939-2176
Abstract: While effort and motivation are crucial for academic success, research on their relation to academic success of students with special educational needs (SEN) is inconclusive, largely due to the heterogeneity of students with SEN and their diverse motivational characteristics. The aim of this study is to address this gap by utilizing person-centered latent profile analysis to identify distinct profiles based on students' control-related motivational beliefs, and to examine how students' SEN status is associated with the likelihood of exhibiting certain profiles. In addition, we explore how these motivational profiles differ in terms of student performance, including academic achievement (student-reported grade point average) and cognitive tasks (learning to learn tasks), as well as task behavior, specifically time on task (log data) as an indicator of effort. Analyzing national-level data from Finnish ninth graders with and without SEN status (N = 6,942), four motivational profiles emerged: agentic, moderate, avoidant, and mixed. Although SEN students were depicted in all motivational profiles, they were more likely to belong to profiles demonstrating more maladaptive motivational patterns, less time on task, and lower cognitive task achievement. Through these findings, we highlight the importance of a person-centered approach to students' beliefs in identifying different reasons and consequences for performance. We also contribute to research on students' motivational patterns and behavior-related factors explaining differences in task performance that can be further explored using computer-based assessment and log analytics. Educators and policy makers can apply these valuable insights to support students with diverse motivational profiles and learning needs.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1507472
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: A Person-Centered Approach to Action-Control Beliefs of Students with Special Educational Needs and Their Relation to Student Performance and Time on Task
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Laura+Nyman%22">Laura Nyman</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9293-0237">0000-0001-9293-0237</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Satu+Koivuhovi%22">Satu Koivuhovi</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Samuel+Greiff%22">Samuel Greiff</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Risto+Hotulainen%22">Risto Hotulainen</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Todd+D%2E+Little%22">Todd D. Little</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mari-Pauliina+Vainikainen%22">Mari-Pauliina Vainikainen</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Journal+of+Educational+Psychology%22"><i>Journal of Educational Psychology</i></searchLink>. 2026 118(3):421-443.
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  Data: American Psychological Association. Journals Department, 750 First Street NE, Washington, DC 20002. Tel: 800-374-2721; Tel: 202-336-5510; Fax: 202-336-5502; e-mail: order@apa.org; Web site: http://www.apa.org
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  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
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  Data: 23
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Grade+9%22">Grade 9</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22High+Schools%22">High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Junior+High+Schools%22">Junior High Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Middle+Schools%22">Middle Schools</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="EL" term="%22Secondary+Education%22">Secondary Education</searchLink>
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  Label: Descriptors
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Special+Needs+Students%22">Special Needs Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Special+Education%22">Special Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Time+on+Task%22">Time on Task</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Profiles%22">Profiles</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Motivation%22">Student Motivation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Goal+Orientation%22">Goal Orientation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Beliefs%22">Beliefs</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Grade+9%22">Grade 9</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Student+Behavior%22">Student Behavior</searchLink>
– Name: Subject
  Label: Geographic Terms
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Finland%22">Finland</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
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  Data: 10.1037/edu0001000
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  Data: 0022-0663<br />1939-2176
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: While effort and motivation are crucial for academic success, research on their relation to academic success of students with special educational needs (SEN) is inconclusive, largely due to the heterogeneity of students with SEN and their diverse motivational characteristics. The aim of this study is to address this gap by utilizing person-centered latent profile analysis to identify distinct profiles based on students' control-related motivational beliefs, and to examine how students' SEN status is associated with the likelihood of exhibiting certain profiles. In addition, we explore how these motivational profiles differ in terms of student performance, including academic achievement (student-reported grade point average) and cognitive tasks (learning to learn tasks), as well as task behavior, specifically time on task (log data) as an indicator of effort. Analyzing national-level data from Finnish ninth graders with and without SEN status (N = 6,942), four motivational profiles emerged: agentic, moderate, avoidant, and mixed. Although SEN students were depicted in all motivational profiles, they were more likely to belong to profiles demonstrating more maladaptive motivational patterns, less time on task, and lower cognitive task achievement. Through these findings, we highlight the importance of a person-centered approach to students' beliefs in identifying different reasons and consequences for performance. We also contribute to research on students' motivational patterns and behavior-related factors explaining differences in task performance that can be further explored using computer-based assessment and log analytics. Educators and policy makers can apply these valuable insights to support students with diverse motivational profiles and learning needs.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: EJ1507472
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        Value: 10.1037/edu0001000
    Languages:
      – Text: English
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        PageCount: 23
        StartPage: 421
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Special Needs Students
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      – SubjectFull: Special Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Time on Task
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      – SubjectFull: Profiles
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      – SubjectFull: Student Motivation
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      – SubjectFull: Goal Orientation
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      – SubjectFull: Beliefs
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      – SubjectFull: Student Behavior
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      – SubjectFull: Finland
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