Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A Journey Through David Watkins’s Research and Contribution to Cross-Cultural Psychology

  • Chapter
The Psychology of Asian Learners

Abstract

The first time I met David Watkins was a long time ago. I was sitting next to him on a bus going to the International Association of Cross-Cultural Psychology conference dinner. The place was Newcastle, and the year was 1988, an auspicious year as I turned 40 and had just submitted my doctorate for examination, the topic of my doctorate being The Psychological Determinants of Motivation of Non-Traditional Aboriginal Students. My “very erudite” paper presentation at the conference was entitled A cross-cultural analysis of student motivation in school settings: An Australian perspective. What a fortuitous event that I was seated on a bus next to David who was also developing a strong interest in cross-cultural research on learning and motivation. What I had not anticipated during the bus trip to a wonderful Hunter Valley winery and the later conversation we had during dinner and throughout the conference was what an argumentative couple we were. It seemed that when I said “white,” he would say “black,” and when he said “fast,” I would say “slow.” I think these dynamics characterized our long friendship and professional relationship through to today.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Ali, J., McInerney, D. M., Craven, R., Yeung, A., & King, R. B. (2014). Socially-oriented motivational goals and academic achievement: Similarities between Native and Anglo Americans. The Journal of Educational Research, 10(2), 123–137. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00220671.2013.788988

  • Biggs, J. (1987). Student approaches to learning and studying. Hawthorn, VIC: Australian Council for Educational Research.

    Google Scholar 

  • Byrne, B. M., & Watkins, A. (2003). The issue of measurement invariance revisited. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 34, 155–175.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng, C. H. K., & Watkins, D. (2000). Age and gender invariance of self-concept factor structure: An investigation of a newly developed Chinese self-concept instrument. International Journal of Psychology, 35, 186–193.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Covington, M. V. (2000). Goal theory, motivation, and school achievement: An integrative review. Annual Review of Psychology, 51, 171–200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dahlin, B., & Watkins, D. A. (2000). The role of repetition in the processes of memorising and understanding: A comparison of the views of German and Chinese secondary school students in Hong Kong. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 70, 65–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dowson, M., & McInerney, D. M. (2001). Psychological parameters of students’ social and work avoidance goals: A qualitative investigation. Journal of Educational Psychology, 93, 35–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dowson, M., & McInerney, D. M. (2003). What do students say about their motivational goals? Towards a more complex and dynamic perspective on student motivation. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 28, 91–113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dweck, C. S., & Leggett, E. L. (1988). A social-cognitive approach to motivation and personality. Psychological Review, 95, 256–273.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elliot, A. J. (2005). A conceptual history of the achievement goal construct. In A. J. Elliot & C. S. Dweck (Eds.), Handbook of competence and motivation (pp. 52–72). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Entwistle, N. J., & Ramsden, P. (1983). Understanding student learning. London: Croom Helm.

    Google Scholar 

  • Flowerday, T. L., & Shaughnessy, M. (2005). An interview with Dennis McInerney. Educational Psychology Review, 17, 83–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao, L. B., & Watkins, D. A. (2002). Conceptions of teaching held by school science teachers in P.R. China: Identification and cross-cultural comparisons. International Journal of Science Education, 24, 61–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ho, A., Watkins, D. A., & Kelly, M. (2001). The conceptual change approach to improving teaching and learning: An evaluation of a Hong Kong staff development programme. Higher Education, 42, 143–169.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kember, D., & Watkins, D. A. (2010). Approaches to learning and teaching by the Chinese. In B. Michael Harris (Ed.), The Oxford handbook of Chinese psychology (pp. 169–185). New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • King, R. B., Ganotice, F. A., & Watkins, D. A. (2012a). Validation of the Chinese version of the Sense of Self (SOS) Scale. Asia Pacific Education Review, 13, 323–331.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • King, R. B., Ganotice, F. A., & Watkins, D. A. (2012b). Validation of the Chinese version of the sense of self (SOS) scale. Asia Pacific Education Review, 13, 323–331. doi:10.1007/s12564-011-9195-4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • King, R. B., Ganotice, F. A., & Watkins, D. A. (2012c). Cross-cultural validation of the Inventory of School Motivation (ISM) in the Asian setting: Hong Kong and the Philippines. Child Indicators Research, 5, 135–153. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12187-011-9117-3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • King, R. B., & McInerney, D. M. (2011). Including social goals in achievement motivation research: Examples from the Philippines. In W. Lonner, D. Dinnel, S. Hayes & D. Sattler (Eds.), Readings in psychology and culture. E-book at the Center for Cross-Cultural Research. Washington, DC: Department of Psychology, Western Washington University. Retrieved from http://scholarworks.gvsu.edu/orpc/vol5/iss3/4

  • King, R. B., & McInerney, D. M. (2014). The work avoidance goal construct: Examining its structure antecedents, and consequences. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 39, 42–58. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cedpsych.2013.12.002

  • King, R. B., McInerney, D. M., & Watkins, D. A. (2010). Can social goals enrich our understanding of students’ motivational goals? Journal of Psychology in Chinese Societies, 10, 1–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • King, R. B., McInerney, D. M., & Watkins, D. A. (2012a). Studying for the sake of others: Examining the role of social goals on academic engagement. Educational Psychology, 32, 749–776.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • King, R. B., McInerney, D. M., & Watkins, D. A. (2012b). Competitiveness is not that bad…at least in the East: Testing the hierarchical model of achievement motivation in the Asian setting. International Journal of Intercultural Relation, 36, 446–457.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • King, R. B., McInerney, D. M., & Watkins, D. A. (2013). Examining the role of social goals in school: A study in two collectivist cultures. European Journal of Psychology of Education. doi:10.1007/s10212-013-0179-0.

    Google Scholar 

  • King, R. B., & Watkins, D. A. (2011). The reliability and validity of the Goal Orientation and Learning Strategies Survey (GOALS-S): A Filipino investigation. The Asia Pacific Education Researcher, 20, 579–594.

    Google Scholar 

  • King, R. B., & Watkins, D. A. (2012). Socializing achievement goal theory: The need for social goals. Psychological Studies, 57, 112–116. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12646-011-0140-8

    Google Scholar 

  • Kitayama, S., & Cohen, D. (2007). Handbook of cultural psychology. New York: Guilgord.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matsumoto, D. (Ed.). (2001). The handbook of culture and psychology. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • McInerney, D. M. (1988). A cross-cultural analysis of student motivation in school settings: An Australian perspective. In Paper presented at symposium of educational issues and cross-cultural psychology, the 9th International IACCP Congress, Newcastle, Australia.

    Google Scholar 

  • McInerney, D. M. (1991). The behavioural intentions questionnaire. An examination of construct and etic validity in an educational setting. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 22, 293–306.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McInerney, D. M. (1992). Cross-cultural insights into school motivation and decision making. Journal of Intercultural Studies, 13, 53–74.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McInerney, D. M. (1995). Achievement motivation research and indigenous minorities: Can research be psychometric? Cross-Cultural Research, 29, 211–239.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McInerney, D. M. (2003a). School motivation in cultural context: Psychometric perspective. In Paper presented at the 10th Biennial Conference of EARLI, Padova, Italy.

    Google Scholar 

  • McInerney, D. M. (2003b). What do indigenous students think about school and is it any different from the Anglos? In Paper presented at the combined AARE & NZARE conference, Auckland, New Zealand.

    Google Scholar 

  • McInerney, D. M. (2003c). School motivation in cultural context: A multiple achievement goal analysis. In Paper presented at the European Association of Research in Learning and Instruction, Padua, Italy.

    Google Scholar 

  • McInerney, D. M. (2012). Conceptual and methodological challenges in multiple goal research among very remote Indigenous Australian students. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 61, 634–668.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McInerney, D. M., Dowson, M., & Yeung, A. S. (2005). Facilitating conditions for school motivation: Construct validity and applicability. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 65, 1046–1066.

    Google Scholar 

  • McInerney, D. M., Fasoli, L., Stephenson, P., & Herbert, J. (2012). Building the future for remote Indigenous students in Australia. An examination of future goals, motivation, learning and achievement in cultural context. In J. N. Franco & A. E. Svensgaard (Eds.), Handbook on psychology of motivation: New research (pp. 61–84). New York: NOVA Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • McInerney, D. M., Hinkley, J., & Dowson, M. (1996). Children’s beliefs about success in the classroom: Are there cultural differences? Australian Journal of Psychology, 48, 121.

    Google Scholar 

  • McInerney, D. M., Hinkley, J., Dowson, M., & Van Etten, S. (1998). Aboriginal, Anglo, and immigrant Australian students’ motivational beliefs about personal academic success: Are there cultural differences? Journal of Educational Psychology, 90, 621–629.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McInerney, D. M., & Liem, A. D. (2009). Achievement motivation in cross-cultural context: Application of personal investment theory in educational settings. In A. Kaplan., S.A. Karabenick, & E. V. De Groot (Eds.), Culture, self and motivation: Essays in honor of Martin L. Maehr (pp. 213–241). Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • McInerney, D. M., Marsh, H. W., & Yeung, A. S. (2003). Toward a hierarchical goal theory model of school motivation. Journal of Applied Measurement, 4, 335–357.

    Google Scholar 

  • McInerney, D. M., & Sinclair, K. E. (1991). Cross cultural model testing: Inventory of school motivation. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 51, 123–133.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McInerney, D. M., & Sinclair, K. E. (1992). Dimensions of school motivation: A cross-cultural validation study. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 23, 389–406.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McInerney, D. M., & Swisher, K. (1995). Exploring Navajo motivation in school settings. Journal of American Indian Education, 33, 28–51.

    Google Scholar 

  • McInerney, V., McInerney, D. M., Cincotta, M., Totaro, P., & Williams, D. (2001, April). Teacher attitudes to, and beliefs about, multicultural education: Have there been changes over the last twenty years? In Paper presented at the 82nd annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Seattle, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • McInerney, D. M., Roche, L., McInerney, V., & Marsh, H. W. (1997). Cultural perspectives on school motivation: The relevance and application of goal theory. American Educational Research Journal, 34, 207–236.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parker, P. D., Dowson, M., & McInerney, D. M. (2007). Standards for quantitative research in diverse sociocultural contexts. In D. M. McInerney, S. Van Etten, & M. Dowson (Eds.), Research on multicultural education and international perspectives Series (Standards in Education, Vol. 6, pp. 315–330). Charlotte, NC: Information Age Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, A. M., & Shim, S. S. (2006). Social achievement goals: The nature and consequences of different orientations toward social competence. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 32(9), 1246–1263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, A. M., & Shim, S. S. (2008). An exploration of young adolescents’ social achievement goals and social adjustment in middle school. Journal of Educational Psychology, 100, 672–687.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shim, S. S., & Finch, W. H. (2013). Academic and social achievement goals and early adolescents’ adjustment: A latent class approach. Learning and Individual Differences, 30, 98–105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van de Vijver, F. J. R., & Watkins, D. A. (2006a). Structural equivalence at individual and country levels. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 22, 69–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van de Vijver, F. J. R., & Watkins, D. A. (2006b). Assessing similarity of meaning at the individual and country level – An investigation of a measure of Independent and Interdependent Self. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 22, 69–77.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, D. A. (1981). Self-esteem and intellectual attribution of responsibility in Filipino children. Philippine Journal of Psychology, 14, 38–46.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, D. A. (1982). Causal attributions for achievement of Filipino barrio children. Journal of Social Psychology, 118, 149–156.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, D. A. (1988). Components of self-esteem of children from a deprived cross-cultural background. Social Behavior and Personality, 16, 1–3.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, D. A. (1996). How appropriate is the self description questionnaire for non-Western cultures? International Journal of Psychology, 31(3–4), 5072–5072.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, D. A. (2000). Learning and teaching: A cross-cultural perspective. School Leadership and Management, 20, 161–173.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, D. A. (2006). The role of competition in today’s Hong Kong: The views of Hong Kong Chinese adolescents in comparative perspective. Journal of Social Sciences, 2, 85–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, D. A., & Akande, A. (1994). Approaches to learning of Nigerian secondary school children: Emic and Etic perspectives. International Journal of Psychology, 29, 165–182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, D. A., Akande, A., Fleming, J., Ismail, M., Maznah, L., Lefner, K., et al. (1998). Cultural dimensions, gender, and the nature of self-concept: A fourteen-country study. International Journal of Psychology, 33, 17–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, D. A., Akande, A., & Mpofu, E. (1996). Assessing self-esteem: An African perspective. Personality and Individual Differences, 20, 163–169.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, D. A., Akande, J., Adebowale Gerong, A., McInerney, D., Sunar, D. W., Sue Wen, Q. F., et al. (1998). Individualism-collectivism, gender and the self-concept: A nine culture investigation. Psychologia, 41(4), 259–271.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, D. A., & Alfon, M. (1988). The spheres of control scale: An attempt at cross-cultural validation. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 48, 453–457.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, D. A., & Astilla, E. (1980a). Intellective and non-intellective predictors of academic achievement at a Filipino university. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 40, 245–249.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, D. A., & Astilla, E. (1980b). The reliability and validity of the Coopersmith self-esteem inventory for a sample of Filipino high school girl. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 40, 251–254.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, D. A., Biggs, J., & Regmi, M. (1991). Does confidence in the language of instruction influence a student’s approach to learning? Instructional Science, 20, 331–339.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, D. A., & Cheng, C. (1995). The revised causal dimension scale: A confirmatory factor analysis with Hong-Kong Students. British Journal of Educational Psychology, 65, 249–252.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, D. A., & Dhawan, N. (1989). Do we need to distinguish the constructs of self-concept and self-esteem? Behavior and Personality, 4, 555–562.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, D. A., Dong, Q., & Xia, Y. (1995). Towards the validation of a Chinese version of the Self-Description Questionnaire-1. Psychologia, 38, 22–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, D. A., & Hattie, J. (1980). An investigation of the internal structure of the Biggs study process questionnaire. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 42, 1125–1130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, D. A., & Hattie, J. (1981). The internal structure and predictive validity of the inventory of learning processes: Some Australian and Filipino data. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 41, 511–514.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, D., & Hattie, J. (2012). Multiple goals in a Hong Kong Chinese educational context: An investigation of developmental trends and learning outcomes. Australian Journal of Education, 56, 273–286.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, D. A., & Ismail, M. (1994). Is the Asian learner as rote learner – A Malaysian perspective. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 19(4), 483–488.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, D. A., McInerney, D., Akande, A., & Lee, C. (2003). An investigation of ethnic differences in the motivation and strategies for learning of students in desegregated South African schools. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 34, 189–194.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, D. A., McInerney, D. M., Lee, C., Akande, A., & Regmi, R. (2002). Motivation and learning strategies: A cross-cultural perspective. In D.M. McInerney, & S. van Etten (Eds.), Research on sociocultural influences on motivation and learning (Vol. 2, pp. 329–343). Greenwich, CT: Information Age Publishing; Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China: Department of Special Education and Counseling, The Hong Kong Institute of Education.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, D. A., McInerney, D., & Boholst, F. A. (2003). The reliability and validity of the Inventory of School Motivation: A Filipino investigation. The Asia-Pacific Education Researcher, 12, 87–100.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, D. A., McInerney, D. M., & Lee, C. (2002). Assessing the school motivation of Hong Kong students. Psychologia, 45, 144–154.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, D. A., & Qi, D. (1994). Assessing the self-esteem of Chinese school children. Educational Psychology, 14, 129–137.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, D. A., & Regmi, M. (1992a). How universal are student conceptions of learning – A Nepalese Investigation. Psychologia, 35(2), 101–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, D. A., & Regmi, M. (1992b). Student evaluation of tertiary teaching: A Nepalese investigation. Educational Psychology, 12, 131–142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, D. A., & Regmi, M. (1993). The Basis of self-esteem of urban and rural Nepalese children. Journal of Social Psychology, 133, 255–257.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, D. A., & Regmi, M. (1996). Within-culture and gender differences in self-concept – An investigation with rural and urban Nepalese school children. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 27, 692–699.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Watkins, D. A., Regmi, M., & Astilla, E. (1991). The Asian-learner stereotype: Myth or reality? Educational Psychology, 11, 21–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wong, N., Lin, W., & Watkins, D. A. (1996). Cross-cultural validation of models of approaches to learning: An application of confirmatory factor analysis. Educational Psychology, 16, 317–327.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yeung, A. S., & McInerney, D. M. (2005). Students’ school motivation and aspiration over high school years. Educational Psychology: An International Journal of Experimental Educational Psychology, 25, 537–554.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Special Education and Counseling, The Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong SAR, P.R. China

    Dennis M. McInerney

Authors
  1. Dennis M. McInerney
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dennis M. McInerney .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Curriculum and Instruction, The Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong SAR, China

    Ronnel B. King

  2. Department of Psychology Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China

    Allan B. I. Bernardo

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer Science+Business Media Singapore

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

McInerney, D.M. (2016). A Journey Through David Watkins’s Research and Contribution to Cross-Cultural Psychology. In: King, R., Bernardo, A. (eds) The Psychology of Asian Learners. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-576-1_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-576-1_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-287-575-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-287-576-1

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation