Collective and Individual Self-Regulation Processes During a Project-Based Learning Process

In higher education, students are faced with group tasks, such as project-based learning. However, research on self-regulated learning has paid little attention to the details of collective self-regulation. In this framework, the objective of this research was to determine the impact of the feeling of collective efficacy on the performance of groups of students involved in self-regulation processes in project-based learning. The quantitative approach was adopted. The type of descriptive research and field design. The 45 volunteer participants of an education program at the National University of the Altiplano completed a questionnaire that explored different aspects of self-regulation: Use of human resources, setting objectives, collective efficacy, expression of disagreements, and quality of interactions. The questionnaire comprised 20 items rated on a Likert-type scale, ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 6 (strongly agree), and included two open-ended questions aimed at understanding strategies for managing doubts and maintaining interest int the project. The results show that the feeling of collective efficiency is a significant predictor of the final grade in the project and that the group’s ability to define the objectives precisely and prioritize them contributes significantly to the development of the feeling of collective efficacy. The conclusion exposes the pedagogical implications of these results, emphasizing the essential role of tutors in fostering an environment conducive to collective efficacy by guiding students in defining, prioritizing objectives, and managing doubts effectively. This guidance is crucial, especially in the early phases of project implementation, to establish a dynamic of collective efficacy and develop individual interest in the project.