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Dr Valerie Ann Sotardi

Contact

Department: School of Educational Studies and Leadership

Email: valerie.sotardi@canterbury.ac.nz

Phone Number: +64 3 369 3999 ext. null

Office: Rehua 420

Languages: English, Spanish

"The mind is not a vessel that needs filling, but wood that needs igniting."
(Plutarch, On Listening to Lectures)
About
Research / Creative works
Methods & Equipment

Fields of Research

  • Educational psychology
  • Stress and coping
  • Motivation and emotion
  • Learning and assessment
  • Mental health and well-being

Researcher Summary

My research interests focus on motivation and stress management in young people.

I am particularly interested in:
(a) identifying diverse settings in which young people experience stress and anxiety;
(b) evaluating how these experiences affect the attitudes, self-perceptions, and well-being of young people; and
(c) designing evidence-based coping strategies to help young people effectively manage stress and anxiety.

I consider myself a multidisciplinary researcher. My formal training is in educational psychology, but I also extend my scholarship to other disciplines such as sociology, law, geography, philosophy, and public policy. I adopt a wide range of methodological approaches, including mixed-method studies.

Broadly, I seek to conduct applied research that contributes positively to youth in society.

Please contact me at valerie.sotardi@canterbury.ac.nz with any queries.

Subject Area: Disciplines

  • Education: Assessment and Evaluation; Childhood Development; Childhood Studies; Comparative Education; Education; Education and Development; Educational Psychology; History of Education; Learning Communities; Primary School; Resilience in Children; Secondary School; Teacher Education; Tertiary Education; Transition to School
  • Health and Health Sciences: Mental Health
  • Psychology: Psychology; Social Psychology
  • Resilience: Social: Education; Health and Wellbeing; Psychology and Relationships; People and Community

Research/Scholarly/Creative Works

Journal Articles
  • Sotardi V. (2022) On Institutional Belongingness and Academic Performance: Mediating Effects of Social Self-Efficacy and Metacognitive Strategies. Studies in Higher Education http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2022.2081678.
  • Sotardi V. and Dutton H. (2022) First-Year University Students' Authentic Experiences with Evaluation Anxiety and their Attitudes toward Assessment. Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02602938.2022.2059445.
  • Sotardi V., Taylor L., Brogt E., Cheer U. and Baird N. (2022) Influences on students’ interest in a legal career, satisfaction with law school, & psychological distress: trends in New Zealand. Law Teacher 56(1): 67-89. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03069400.2021.1968166.
  • Sotardi VA., Surtees N., Vincent K. and Johnston H. (2022) Belonging and adjustment for LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ students during the social transition to university.. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education 15(6): 755-765. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/dhe0000305.
  • Tahir F., Mitrovic A. and Sotardi V. (2022) Investigating the causal relationships between badges and learning outcomes in SQL-Tutor. Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning 17(1) http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s41039-022-00180-4.
  • Taylor L., Sotardi V., Cheer U., Brogt E. and Baird N. (2022) What Happens after Graduation? The Post-Law Experiences and Reflections of Aotearoa New Zealand Law Graduates. Asian Journal of Legal Education http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/23220058221133653.
  • Sotardi V., Surtees N., Vincent K. and Johnston H. (2021) Belonging and Adjustment for LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ Students during the Social Transition to University Journal of Diversity in Higher Education. Journal of Diversity in Higher Education.
  • Sotardi VA., Watson P., Swit C., Roy D. and Bajaj M. (2021) Adolescent stress, help-seeking intentions, subjective achievement and life satisfaction in New Zealand: Tests of mediation, moderated mediation and moderation. Stress and Health 37(4): 650-668. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/smi.3021.
  • Watson P., Sotardi V., Park J. and Roy D. (2021) Gender Self-Confidence, Scholastic Stress, Life Satisfaction, and Perceived Academic Achievement for Adolescent New Zealanders. Journal of Adolescence.
  • Murray A. and Sotardi V. (2020) Exploring Experiences and Academic Outcomes of First-Year University Students with and without Perceived Disabilities or Impairments. International Journal of Disability, Development and Education (CIJD) http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1034912X.2020.1811842.
  • Sotardi V., Thompson E. and Maguire J. (2020) What a Difference a Year Makes: Fees-Free Policy and University Students in Aotearoa New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Educational Studies 55(1): 207-214. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40841-020-00157-1.
  • Sotardi VA. and Brogt E. (2020) Influences of learning strategies on assessment experiences and outcomes during the transition to university. Studies in Higher Education 45(9): 1973-1985. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/03075079.2019.1647411.
  • Sotardi VA., Bosch J. and Brogt E. (2020) Multidimensional influences of anxiety and assessment type on task performance. Social Psychology of Education 23(2): 499-522. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11218-019-09508-3.
  • Sotardi V. and Dubien D. (2019) Perfectionism, wellbeing, and university performance: A sample validation of the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS) in New Zealand. Personality and Individual Differences 143: 103-106. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2019.02.023.
  • Sotardi V., Thompson E. and Brogt E. (2019) Early Influences of the Fees-Free Policy on University Students in Aotearoa New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Educational Studies 54(1): 139-156. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40841-019-00129-0.
  • Sotardi VA. and Watson PWSJ. (2019) A sample validation of the Adolescent Stress Questionnaire (ASQ) in New Zealand. Stress and Health 35(1): 3-14. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/smi.2834.
  • Sotardi VA. (2018) Trait and state anxiety across academic evaluative contexts: development and validation of the MTEA-12 and MSEA-12 scales. Anxiety, Stress and Coping 31(3): 348-363. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2017.1421948.
  • Taylor L., Sotardi V., Brogt E., Cheer U., Baird N. and Caldwell J. (2018) The Student Experience at New Zealand Law Schools. New Zealand Law Review [2018](4): 693-722.
  • Sotardi VA. (2017) Bumps in the Road: Exploring Teachers’ Perceptions of Student Stress and Coping. The Teacher Educator http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08878730.2017.1422826.
  • Sotardi VA. (2017) Exploring school stress in middle childhood: Interpretations, experiences, and coping. Pastoral Care in Education 35(1): 13-27. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/02643944.2016.1269360.
  • Sotardi VA. and Friesen MD. (2017) Student reflections on learning and studying during the transition to university: Implications for tertiary learning advisors. Association of Tertiary Learning Advisors of Aotearoa New Zealand (ATLAANZ) Journal. 2(1): 19-35.
  • Sotardi VA. (2016) Understanding student stress and coping in elementary school: A mixed-method, longitudinal study. Psychology in the Schools 53(7): 705-721. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pits.21938.
Chapters
  • Sotardi V. and Friesen M. (2019) Psychology of education. In Kamp A (Ed.), Education studies in Aotearoa New Zealand: Key disciplines and emerging directions: 88-111. Wellington, NZ: New Zealand Council for Educational Research.
  • McCaslin M., Sotardi VA. and Vega RI. (2015) Teacher Support and Students' Self-regulated Learning: Co-regulation and Classroom Management. In Emmer ET; Sabornie EJ (Ed.), Handbook of Classroom Management (2nd ed.): 322-343. New York: Taylor & Francis.
Reports
  • Agnew S., Coupe T., Sotardi V., Ren X., Leggett V. and Bajaj M. (2022) Financial Confidence & Financial Decision-making Behaviours among Young People in Aotearoa New Zealand.Commissioned by Banqer Financial Education.
  • Agnew S., Coupe T., Sotardi V., Ren X., Leggett V. and Bajaj M. (2022) Understanding Financial Confidence among Young People in Aotearoa New Zealand.Commissioned by Banqer Financial Education.
  • Taylor L., Cheer U., Brogt E., Sotardi V. and Baird N. (2021) The Making of Lawyers: Expectations and experiences of sixth year Aotearoa/New Zealand law students and recent law graduates. In The Making of Lawyers: Expectations and experiences of sixth year Aotearoa/New Zealand law students and recent law graduates, Ako Aotearoa. Commissioned by Ako Aotearoa. 1-180.
  • Taylor L., Cheer U., Baird N., Brogt E., Caldwell J. and Sotardi V. (2019) The Making of Lawyers: Expectations and Experiences of New Zealand Law Students and Recent New Zealand Law Graduates.Ako Aotearoa. Commissioned by Ako Aotearoa. 1-129.
  • Sotardi VA. and Brogt E. (2018) Understanding assessment anxiety during the transition to university.Commissioned by Ako Aotearoa, National Centre for Tertiary Teaching Excellence. 27.
  • Sotardi VA. and Brogt E. (2016) Common student problems with assessment during the transition to university: Support staff perspectives, insights, and recommendations.Commissioned by Ako Aotearoa, National Centre for Tertiary Teaching Excellence. 25.
Theses / Dissertations
  • Sotardi VA. (2013) On everyday stress and coping strategies among elementary school children. PhD Thesis, Tucson, AZ, USA. University of Arizona.
  • Sotardi VA. (2008) The student, the context, and academic cheating: A valence-based, interactionistic approach. Tucson, AZ, USA. University of Arizona.
Conference Contributions - Other
  • Dutton H. and Sotardi V. (2023) Self-disclosure in formal and informal learning contexts: Connections with relationship development and wellbeing. Christchurch, New Zealand: Educational Psychology Forum, 1-2 Feb 2023.
  • Leggett V., Sotardi V., Dutton H. and Bajaj Prakash M. (2023) Perspectives and Experiences of Stress and Coping in Aotearoa New Zealand Secondary School Students. Christchurch, New Zealand: Educational Psychology Forum, 1 Feb 2023.
  • Ren X., Sotardi V. and Brown C. (2023) Thriving in university under the crisis: Exploring the relations between students’ belonging, activity emotions and burnout.. Christchurch, New Zealand: Educational Psychology Forum, 1-2 Feb 2023.
  • Sotardi V. (2023) When the rubber hits the road: First-year students’ (in)accurate expectations of university life.. Christchurch, New Zealand.: Educational Psychology Forum, 1-2 Feb 2023.
  • Sotardi V. and Brogt E. (2023) Gaps in Tertiary Teacher Self-Efficacy, Attitudes, and Needs between On-Campus and Online Teaching & Learning in Aotearoa New Zealand. Christchurch, New Zealand: Educational Psychology Forum, 1 Feb 2023.
  • Bajaj M., Sotardi V. and Sato M. (2021) Examining the influence of assessment-related factors on students’ self-regulated learning strategies. Dunedin, New Zealand: Educational Psychology Forum, 28 Jan 2021.
  • Sotardi V. (2021) Keynote Presentation: Skewed thinking: Motivation and learning challenges among first-year students in mathematics and statistics. The University of Auckland: Herenga Delta, the 13th Southern Hemisphere Conference on the Teaching and Learning of Undergraduate Mathematics and Statistics, 22 Nov 2021.
  • Sotardi V. and Ren X. (2021) Institutional Belongingness & Academic Performance at University: Mediating Effects of Social Self-Efficacy in the Classroom and Metacognitive Strategies. Dunedin, New Zealand: Educational Psychology Forum, 28 Jan 2021.
  • Sotardi V. and Ren X. (2020) Influences of stress and coping on first-year university student wellbeing and GPA. Palmerston North, New Zealand: Educational Psychology Forum, 27 Feb 2020.
  • Sotardi V., Kuntz J., Malinen S. and Naswall I. (2020) Employee Stress, Well-being & Workplace Climate in the Tertiary Education Sector. University of Canterbury: 9th Aotearoa New Zealand Organisational Psychology and Organisational Behaviour Conference, 27 Nov 2020.
  • Watson P. and Sotardi V. (2020) Gender identity, school stress, life satisfaction, and perceived academic outcomes: The importance of gender self-acceptance in school success.. Palmerston North, New Zealand: Educational Psychology Forum, 27 Feb 2020.
  • Brown G. and Sotardi V. (2019) Evaluation of the BFI10 personality inventory with New Zealand university students: Failing psychometric tests. Paris, France: International Convention of Psychological Science, 14 Apr 2019.
  • Davis N., Brown C., Sotardi V. and Vidal WE. (2019) Connecting distance students engaged alongside campus students: A case study. Bruges, Belgium: EDEN Online Conference, 16 Jun 2019.
  • Murray A. and Sotardi V. (2019) Exploring experiences and outcomes of university students with a focus on students with and without perceived impairments. New Zealand Association for Research in Education, 18 Nov 2019.
  • Ren X. and Sotardi V. (2019) The relationship between belonging, motivation, and performance based on year levels in university in New Zealand. New Zealand Association for Research in Education: 18 Nov 2019.
  • Sotardi V. (2019) Exploring Achievement Goals, Self-Efficacy, and Performance among New Zealand University Students. Aachen, Germany: European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction (EARLI), 11 Aug 2019.
  • Sotardi V. (2019) Influences of Perfectionism on New Zealand University Students’ Self-Perceptions and Performance. Aachen, Germany: European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction, 11 Aug 2019.
  • Sotardi V., Ren X. and Bajaj M. (2019) Evaluative Anxiety in First-Year University Students: Attributions, Coping, and Attitudes. Christchurch, NZ: New Zealand Association for Research in Education, 18 Nov 2019.
  • Sotardi V., Watson P., Johnston H. and Bajaj M. (2019) Stress of School Performance in New Zealand Adolescents: Contributors, Coping, and Wellbeing. Christchurch, NZ: New Zealand Association for Research in Education, 18 Nov 2019.
  • Brogt E. and Sotardi VA. (2018) Authentic assessment: Measuring graduate profile learning objectives while reducing student assessment anxiety. Wellington: Tertiary Education Research New Zealand annual conference, 28-30 Nov 2018.
  • Sotardi V. and Brogt E. (2018) The Impact of Learning and Study Strategies on Evaluation Anxiety and Performance. San Francisco, USA: American Psychological Association, 12 Aug 2018.
  • Sotardi V. and Brogt E. (2018) The Impact of Learning and Study Strategies on Task Anxiety, Performance, and Academic Self-Efficacy during the Transition to University. Auckland, New Zealand: Educational Psychology Forum, 22 Nov 2018.
  • Sotardi V. and Watson P. (2018) Adolescent Stress, Help-Seeking Tendencies, and Student Outcomes: Insights from New Zealand. San Francisco, USA: American Psychological Association, 12 Aug 2018.
  • Sotardi V., Watson P. and Roy D. (2018) Influences of Help-seeking Tendencies on Adolescents’ Perceptions of Stress, School, and Life. Auckland, New Zealand: Educational Psychology Forum, 23 Nov 2018.
  • Sotardi VA. and Bosch J. (2017) Evaluative Anxiety and Achievement during the Transition to University: Understanding and Supporting Students. Wellington, New Zealand: 10th Educational Psychology Forum (EPF), 27-28 Nov 2017.
  • Sotardi VA. and Brogt E. (2017) Academic self-efficacy, evaluative anxiety, and achievement during the transition to university. Melbourne, Australia: 9th SELF Bienniel International Conference, 25-28 Sep 2017.
  • Sotardi VA. and Brogt E. (2017) Assessment problems and anxieties during the student transition to university. Dunedin, New Zealand: Assessing Learning Conference, 29 Nov-1 Dec 2017.
  • Sotardi VA. and Brogt E. (2017) Evaluative anxiety in students and the importance of building partnerships between secondary schools and universities. Hamilton, New Zealand: New Zealand Association for Research in Education Annual Conference 2017 (NZARE), 20-22 Nov 2017.
  • Watson P. and Sotardi VA. (2017) Relationships between adolescent gender identity, stress, and help-seeking behaviours: Preliminary findings. Wellington, New Zealand: 10th Educational Psychology Forum (EPF), 27-28 Nov 2017.
  • Sotardi VA. (2016) Adaptive coping with stress as a worthy aim in education. Christchurch, New Zealand: Educational Ideas Special Interest Group Conference, 29 Aug 2016.
  • Sotardi VA. (2016) Understanding assessment anxiety during the student transition to university. Christchurch, New Zealand: Southern Hub Colloquium of the Ako Aotearoa Regional Hub Project Fund (RHPF), 14-14 Nov 2016.
  • Sotardi VA. and Brogt E. (2016) Common student problems with assessment during the transition to university: Issues and implications for learning advisors. Lincoln, New Zealand: Association of Tertiary Learning Advisors of Aotearoa New Zealand (ATLAANZ), 30 Nov-2 Dec 2016.
  • Sotardi VA. (2015) Understanding student stress and coping efforts in primary school: A mixed-method, longitudinal study. Christchurch, New Zealand: 8th Educational Psychology Forum (EPF), 23-24 Nov 2015.
  • Sotardi VA. (2015) Understanding student stress and coping efforts in primary school: A mixed-method, longitudinal study. University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand: 8th Educational Psychology Forum (EPF), 23-24 Nov 2015.
  • Sotardi VA. and Brogt E. (2015) Identifying and mitigating common student problems with assessments. Auckland, New Zealand: Tertiary Education Research New Zealand Annual Conference (TERNZ), 25-27 Nov 2015.

Key Methodologies

  • Quantitative research
  • Mixed-method research
  • Longitudinal research
  • Qualitative research
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