The Impact of Writing Center Consultations on Student Writing Self-Efficacy

Authors

Isabelle M. Lundin, Oakland UniversityFollow
Victoria O'Connor, Oakland UniversityFollow
Sherry Wynn Perdue, Oakland UniversityFollow

Abstract

This study sought to determine the impact writing center consultations have on student writing self-efficacy and to illuminate effective consultant strategies for fostering student writing confidence. As part of a multimethods study, a survey was administered for students to reflect upon and to assess their feelings of writing self-efficacy by describing experiences in writing center consultations. Selected respondents were asked to elaborate on the strategies used by their peer consultant(s) in an optional open-ended interview. Findings suggest that writing center consultations help increase writing self-efficacy. The effective consultant strategies described by study participants are synthesized into an overarching consultant framework of empathy-based tutoring, which includes four key consultant moves that work to foster writing self-efficacy: listening, translating, advising, and motivating. Results from this study have implications for further consultant training and/or professional development programs and reaffirm the value writing centers bring to student writing growth.

Recommended Citation

Lundin, Isabelle M.; O'Connor, Victoria; and Wynn Perdue, Sherry (2023) "The Impact of Writing Center Consultations on Student Writing Self-Efficacy," Writing Center Journal: Vol. 41 : Iss. 2, Article 2.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.7771/2832-9414.1937