Effort and monitoring judgments show a medium negative correlation (r = −.355) during learning¶

Claim · All claims
Evidence · 1 study · quant-synthesis r3 · q3 · i2 medium
Currency · newest study 2020 · checked against its sources 2026-10-20 (automated, 1 of 1 entry) · not reviewed by a person

Subclaims¶

q3 i2 Across 123 participant groups, the mean correlation between effort and monitoring judgments is negative, r = −.355. → Martine Baars & Lisette Wijnia & Anique de Bruin & Fred Paas 2020

Evidence¶

Martine Baars & Lisette Wijnia & Anique de Bruin & Fred Paas 2020¶

Martine Baars & Lisette Wijnia & Anique de Bruin & Fred Paas. (2020). The Relation Between Students' Effort and Monitoring Judgments During Learning: A Meta-analysis. Educational Psychology Review. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-020-09569-3

q3 · i2 · quant-synthesis · r3

Random-effects meta-analysis of k = 123 participant groups (5819 participants) found a mean correlation of "r = − .355 (95% CI [ − .408, − .300])", with substantial heterogeneity (I2 = 79.57).

"To answer Research Question 1, we analyzed the mean correlation between effort and monitoring judgment ( k = 123). In support of Hypothesis 1, a negative, small correlation was found, r = − .355 (95% CI [ − .408, − .300])."

Discussion¶

Related Claims¶

• Monitoring judgment timing moderates the correlation: concurrent judgments show a stronger negative association than prospective judgments — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• Effort appraisals correlate negatively with monitoring judgments: high mental effort is associated with poorer performance judgments — a broader claim this one bears on
• Publication bias analyses suggest the negative correlation is robust but trim-and-fill adjusts it to r = −.227 — related
• Goal-driven manipulations weaken the negative effort–monitoring correlation, which is nonsignificant under incentives, time pressure or self-agency ratings taken singly — related
• School level moderates the correlation non-linearly, with grades 7–12 showing the most negative correlation — related
• Effort measurement type moderates the correlation: self-agency ratings show a positive association and subjective ratings a stronger negative one than objective measures — related
• In the multivariate meta-regression, goal-driven manipulation, judgment timing, and task type remain significant moderators — a narrower finding that bears on this claim
• Task type moderates the correlation: problem-solving tasks show a stronger negative association than word/paired-associate tasks — related
• Effort ratings correlate negatively with judgments of learning (r = −0.355), but the correlation disappears under a goal-driven interpretation of effort — possibly the same claim (merge candidate)
• Mental effort and judgments of learning show a medium-sized negative correlation, moderated by regulation mode and task type — possibly the same claim (merge candidate)
• Prior meta-analysis found a negative medium-sized effort–monitoring correlation (r = -0.35), attenuated under goal-driven manipulations — possibly the same claim (merge candidate)