I noted that the students’ identification of the progress of their self-regulatory skill
development through self-reflection and self-monitoring was not a precise, linear process. As
Zimmerman comments, the motivation to engage in self-regulatory behavior is not always
present (Zimmerman, as cited in Pajares and Urdan, Eds., 2002) comment:
Various aspects of self-regulation, such as forethought planning, systematic
self-monitoring, and intense self-reflection are mentally and physically
demanding activities, and people may decide to forgo their use if they feel tired,
disinterested, or uncommitted. (p. 9)