A1 Journal article (refereed)
Children’s beliefs concerning their school performance at the end of the first grade in Finland (2023)

Eskelä-Haapanen, S., Pakarinen, E., & Lerkkanen, M.-K. (2023). Children’s beliefs concerning their school performance at the end of the first grade in Finland. Early Child Development and Care, 193(3), 305-318. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2022.2089132

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Eskelä-Haapanen, Sirpa; Pakarinen, Eija; Lerkkanen, Marja-Kristiina

Journal or series: Early Child Development and Care

ISSN: 0300-4430

eISSN: 1476-8275

Publication year: 2023

Publication date: 17/06/2022

Volume: 193

Issue number: 3

Pages range: 305-318

Publisher: Routledge

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2022.2089132

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/82117

Abstract

This study examines primary-school children’s beliefs about their school performance at the end of their first school year in Finland and feedback that they have received, and furthermore possible gender differences between these beliefs. Children from Grade 1 (N = 544), approximately 7 years old, were interviewed. The data were assessed using problem-driven content analyzis and inductive reasoning. The analyzis revealed ten categories of children’s beliefs regarding their school success and failure. The results showed that more than one-third of the children believed that they were succeeding well at school. More boys than girls mentioned that they succeeded in mathematics, and more girls than boys mentioned that they succeeded in literacy. Based on the interviews, teachers rarely gave feedback. Even less feedback was reportedly given by teachers when the children believed that they were performing poorly. Therefore, different modes of giving feedback and the way feedback is provided should be carefully considered.

Keywords: children (age groups); lower comprehensive school pupils; school achievements; conceptions; feedback; gender differences; teacher-pupil relationship

Free keywords: beliefs; school performance; feedback; gender differences; teacher’s role

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Related projects

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2022

Preliminary JUFO rating: 1