Structural model of academic performance based on academic self-efficacy, and academic motivation, mediated by cognitive engagement among mathematics -physics students

Academic performance is one of the most important indicators for measuring the educational quality of students. The aim of this study was developing a structural model of academic performance based on academic motivation and academic self-efficacy mediated by cognitive engagement of mathematics-physics students. It was an applied research of correlation type with structural equation modeling method. The research population included all students of mathematics-physics in Tehran. The research sample consisted of 470 students who were selected by multi-stage cluster sampling method. The research instruments were Walland et al.'s (1992) academic motivation questionnaire, Morris (2001) academic self-efficacy questionnaire and Pintrich et al.'s (1991) motivational strategies for learning questionnaire. Cronbach's alpha coefficient and correlation matrix and structural equation modeling were used for data analysis. The results showed that the model of research variables have a good fit. In the hypothetical model, academic motivation with academic performance mediated by cognitive engagement had a full and direct effect, and their indirect effect was insignificant. The effect of academic self-efficacy on academic performance mediated by cognitive engagement had a significant full and direct effect, however, the indirect effect was not significant. The results showed that the self-efficacy variable has a significant effect on students' academic performance and it could explain 40% of the variance of their academic performance. The teaching staff, school administrators as well as parents of students could use the variable of academic self-efficacy to enhance their academic performance.