Examining the causal model between socially shared regulation of motivation, engagement, and creative performance

•Path analysis was conducted using structural equation modeling.•Self-regulation of motivation positively influenced three aspects of engagement.•Co-regulation of motivation positively affected emotional and cognitive engagement.•Behavioral engagement positively influenced creative performance. The purpose of this study was to hypothesize and validate a path model with the following sequence of variables: three regulation modes of intrinsic motivation, three aspects of engagement, and creative performance. In a traditional lecture class with a large number of students, opportunities for pair work and individual's writing were incorporated to promote student's creative and deeper thinking. Participants were 325 undergraduate students who were asked to complete a questionnaire on self-regulation, co-regulation, and socially shared regulation of intrinsic motivation before the class, and behavioral, emotional, and cognitive engagement after the class. The results of path analysis using structural equation modeling showed that self-regulation of motivation positively influenced behavioral, emotional, and cognitive engagement. Additionally, co-regulation of motivation positively affected emotional and cognitive engagement. Finally, behavioral engagement positively influenced creative performance. Based on the findings of the path model, the desirable direction of educational practice in the future was discussed.