Abstract

While leisure writing may help children to acquire writing skills, it can also be considered as an inherently valuable cultural activity. This study explores how children’s beliefs may explain to what extent children are inclined to leisure writing and if there are any gender differences. Building on preliminary scale development work, we analysed data from 963 third-graders. Variables included (a) the intrinsic value attached to leisure writing (b) preceding behavioural, normative, and control beliefs related to these activities, and (c) the level of leisure writing. In a structural equation model, the preceding beliefs were applied as explanatory variables for the intrinsic value. Intrinsic value, in turn, explained a large proportion of variance in children’s leisure-writing activities. Gender differences in leisure writing were mediated by intrinsic value. Significance of intrinsic value and preceding beliefs regarding leisure-writing activities are discussed.

摘要

虽然休闲写作可以帮助孩子们提高写作技巧，但它也可以被认为是一种固有的有价值的文化活动。这项研究探讨了儿童的信仰如何解释儿童在多大程度上倾向于休闲写作以及是否存在性别差异。在初步规模开发工作的基础上，我们分析了963位三年级学生的数据。变量包括（a）休闲写作所具有的内在价值（b）与这些活动有关的行为，规范和控制信念之前的行为，以及（c）休闲写作的水平。在结构方程模型中，先前的信念被用作内在价值的解释变量。内在价值反过来解释了儿童休闲写作活动中很大一部分差异。休闲写作中的性别差异是通过内在价值来调节的。讨论了关于休闲写作活动的内在价值和先前信念的重要性。