Professor Ellen L. Usher
Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology

Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology University of Kentucky 249 Dickey Hall Lexington, KY 40506-0017 Phone: 859.257.8647 Fax: 859.257.5662 E-Mail: ellen.usher@uky.edu

Degrees

BS, University of Georgia, Foreign Language Education, emphasis in French
MA, Oglethorpe University, Middle Grades Education, emphasis in science and reading
PhD, Emory University, Educational Studies, emphasis in educational psychology

Research Interests

• Academic motivation
• Social cognitive theory
• Self-efficacy beliefs
• Sources of self-efficacy beliefs
• Technology and learning
• Cultural differences in teaching and learning

Publications

Klassen, R. M., Usher, E. L., & Bong, M. (in press). Teachers’ collective efficacy, job satisfaction, and job stress in cross-cultural context. Journal of Experimental Education.

Alviar-Martin, T., & Usher, E. L. (2010). Enacting democracy in two international schools. In F. Salili & R. Hoosain (Eds.), Research in multicultural education and international perspectives (pp. 291-316). Charlotte, NC: Information Age.

Klassen, R. M., Bong, M., Usher, E. L., Chong, W. H., Huan, V. S., Wong, I. Y. F., & Georgiou, T. (2009). Exploring the validity of the Teachers' Self-Efficacy Scale in five countries. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 34, 67-76.

Reese, R. J., Usher, E. L., Bowman, D., Norsworthy, L., Halstead, J., Rowlands, S., & Chisholm, R. (2009). Using client feedback in psychotherapy training: An analysis of its influence on supervision and counselor self-efficacy. Training and Education in Professional Psychology, 3, 157-168.

Usher, E. L. (2009). Sources of middle school students' self-efficacy in mathematics: A qualitative investigation of student, teacher, and parent perspectives. American Educational Research Journal, 46, 275-314.

Usher, E. L., & Pajares, F. (2009). Sources of self-efficacy in mathematics: A validation study. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 34, 89-101.

Alviar-Martin, T., Randall, J., Usher, E. L., & Engelhard, G. (2008). Teaching civic topics in four societies: Examining national context and teacher confidence. The Journal of Educational Research, 101, 177-188.

Pajares, F., & Usher, E. L. (2008). Self-efficacy, motivation, and achievement in school from the perspective of reciprocal determinism. In M. Maehr, T. C. Urdan, & S. Karabenick (Eds.), Advances in motivation and achievement. Vol. 15: Social psychological perspectives (pp. 391-423). Bingley, United Kingdom: Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

Usher, E. L., & Pajares, F. (2008). Self-efficacy for self-regulated learning: A validation study. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 68, 443-463.

Usher, E. L., & Pajares, F. (2008). Sources of self-efficacy in school: Critical review of the literature and future directions. Review of Educational Research, 78, 751-796.

Pajares, F., Johnson, M. J., & Usher, E. L. (2007). Sources of writing self-efficacy beliefs of elementary, middle, and high school students. Research in the Teaching of English, 42, 104-120.

Spence, D. J., & Usher, E. L. (2007). Engagement with mathematics courseware in traditional and online remedial learning environments: Relationship to self-efficacy and achievement. Journal of Educational Computing Research, 37, 267-288.

Usher, E. L., & Pajares, F. (2006). Inviting confidence in school: Invitations as a critical source of the academic self-efficacy beliefs of entering middle school students. Journal of Invitational Theory and Practice, 12, 7-16.

Usher, E. L., & Pajares, F. (2006). Sources of academic and self-regulatory efficacy beliefs of entering middle school students. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 31, 125-141.

Courses Taught

• Theories of Learning in Education (EDP 610)
• Motivation and Learning (EDP 614)
• Special Topics Seminar: Self-Efficacy (EDP 778)

Professional Service

APA Division 15, Dissertation Awards Committee Chair, 2008-2011
-- Information on the Paul R. Pintrich Outstanding Dissertation Award
-- Information on Division 15 Dissertation Research Awards

AERA Division C New Faculty Mentoring Program, Co-Chair
AERA Division C: Section 6 (Cognitive, Social, and Motivational Processes) Program Co-Chair 2011

Editorial Board Member
Contemporary Educational Psychology
Journal of Educational Psychology

Ad Hoc Reviewer
American Educational Research Journal
Educational and Psychological Measurement
Educational Psychologist
European Journal of Psychology of Education
International Journal of Educational Research
Journal of Applied Social Psychology
Journal of Experimental Education
Journal of Research in Mathematics Education
Journal of Teacher Education
Learning and Individual Differences
Learning and Instruction
Research in the Teaching of English
Review of Educational Research