Children in the active condition report higher perceived autonomy than yoked children, and autonomy predicts posttest learning¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study (2 entries) · causal r3 · q2–q3 · i2 medium
Currency · newest study 2025 · not yet checked against its sources · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i2 Children who generated their own predictions reported significantly higher sense of autonomy than yoked children (d = 0.56), but did not report higher motivation (d = 0.20, p = 0.340). → Brod 2025 q2 i? Perceived autonomy and motivation each correlate significantly with posttest performance but not with transfer performance, and controlling for autonomy attenuates the condition effect on posttest, consistent with autonomy partially mediating the DIY benefit. → Brod 2025 (2)

Evidence¶

Brod 2025¶

Brod, G., Holstein, E., Weindorf, L., Colantonio, J., Bonawitz, E. & Theobald, M. (2025). Do it yourself: discerning the effects of self-directed activity on conceptual learning. npj Science of Learning. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-025-00364-9

q3 · i2 · causal · r3

Immediately after the learning phase, children rated autonomy and motivation on an 8-item questionnaire. "the children in the active condition reported a higher sense of autonomy tha nt h ec h i l d r e ni nt h ey o k e dc o n d i t i o n" (d = 0.56), with no difference in motivation (d = 0.20, p = 0.340).

"Independent t-tests indicated that the children in the active condition reported a higher sense of autonomy tha nt h ec h i l d r e ni nt h ey o k e dc o n d i t i o n (t(93) = 2.70,p =0 . 0 0 8 ,d = 0.56, active:M = 4.21,SD =0 . 7 1 ,y o k e d :M =3 . 7 1 , SD = 1.09)"

Brod 2025 (2)¶

Brod, G., Holstein, E., Weindorf, L., Colantonio, J., Bonawitz, E. & Theobald, M. (2025). Do it yourself: discerning the effects of self-directed activity on conceptual learning. npj Science of Learning. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41539-025-00364-9

q2 · i? · causal · r3

Correlational analysis: autonomy (r = 0.23, p = 0.028) and motivation (r = 0.26, p = 0.012) each related to better posttest but not transfer performance. When autonomy was included in a model with condition, "the effects of condition are attenuated and non-significant," consistent with partial mediation by perceived autonomy.

"Both children's sense of autonomy (r(93) = 0.23, p = 0.028) and their motivation ( r(93) = 0.26, p = 0.012) were significantly related to better posttest performance but not to better transfer test performance"

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Perceived competence predicts isomorphic test performance and perceived autonomy predicts transfer performance — related
• Self-determination theory holds that autonomy support raises intrinsic motivation, and a meta-analysis finds expected tangible rewards undermine it — a broader claim this one bears on
• Children who actively generate their own predictions show better conceptual learning about water displacement than children who observe matched predictions from another learner — related