Finding the Key Social-Emotional Skills for Learning and Wellbeing: A Multi-Method Synthesis

Time & Date: 16:00 - 17:30, December 6 (Friday)

Venue: Room 203, Conference Complex

Zoom Meeting ID: 967 5886 7514 (Passcode: hss)

Abstract:

Social-emotional skills, the skills about managing relationships, emotions, and tasks, have been highlighted in the research and practices. Given its broad scope, multiple frameworks and indicators have been proposed, causing inconsistency in findings. In this talk, I will introduce a series of studies we conducted in order to find out the key social-emotional skills for students’ learning and wellbeing. Throughout those studies, we have used relative weights analysis, dominance analysis, machine learning approaches, cross-cultural/county comparisons, with OECD social-emotional skill survey data. The findings suggested that persistence, curiosity, self-control tends to be the most important skill for achievement, whereas optimism, energy, stress resistance for wellbeing. The implications of the findings (e.g., targeted intervention) and our future directions will be discussed, particularly on utilizing the power of Generative Artificial Intelligence tools.

Biography:

Dr. Xin Tang is an associate professor at the School of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University. He also holds the title of Docent (equivalent to Associate Professor) at the Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Helsinki, Finland. His research topics include motivation and engagement, academic wellbeing, social-emotional skills, and teaching practices. So far, he has over 50 peer-reviewed publications. As a lead author, his work has been appeared in highly regarded journals, such as Learning and Instruction, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Journal of Youth and Adolescence, Teaching and Teacher Education, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.
Moreover, he is currently on the editorial board of the Journal of Youth and Adolescence (SSCI-Q1), Learning and Individual Differences (SSCI-Q1), Educational Psychology (SSCI-Q1), Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology (SSCI-Q2), and Frontiers in Psychology (SSCI-Q2).