Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 3, 2026
12:09
Studying Food Reward and Motivation in Humans
Published on: March 19, 2014
Clarifying achievement goals and their impact
1Department of Psychology, Columbia University, USA. hgp1@nyu.edu
Journal of Personality and Social Psychology
|September 23, 2003
Summary
Achievement goal operationalization matters. Active learning goals promote sustained motivation and achievement, while some performance goals can hinder progress, especially under challenge.
Area of Science:
- Educational Psychology
- Motivation Science
Background:
- Achievement goal theory is central to understanding motivation.
- Controversy exists regarding the precise nature and impact of different achievement goals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how the operationalization of learning and performance goals influences motivational processes and academic achievement.
- To clarify discrepancies in the literature regarding achievement goal impacts.
Main Methods:
- Conducted 5 empirical studies, including a longitudinal study in a challenging premed course.
- Examined the differential effects of various operationalizations of learning and performance goals.
Main Results:
- Active learning goals positively predicted active coping, sustained motivation, and higher achievement during challenges.
- Ability-linked performance goals predicted withdrawal and poorer performance under challenge, but offered a temporary boost with success.
- Normative goals showed no significant negative impact on motivation or performance.
- Outcome goals (seeking good grades) were similarly related to both learning and ability goals.
Conclusions:
- The operationalization of achievement goals is critical for understanding their effects on student motivation and performance.
- Distinguishing between different types of performance goals is essential for accurate theoretical and practical applications.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
03:00Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
04:49Robbers Cave
During the 1950s, the landmark Robbers Cave experiment demonstrated that when groups must compete with one another, intergroup conflict, hostility, and even violence may result. At the Oklahoman summer camp, two troops of boys—termed the Rattlers and the Eagles—took part in a week-long tournament. During this time, their negativity culminated in derogatory name-calling, fistfights, and even vandalism and destruction of property. However, this work also revealed that such tension could be...
01:11Guidelines for Writing Outcome
When developing expected outcomes for a patient care plan, the nurse should adhere to the following recommendations:
Patient outcomes reflect the patient's response to the goal rather than what the nurse aims to achieve. Terminology should be observable and measurable to avoid the reader's interpretation. The desired outcome should be realistic and achievable in the designated care timeframe. Expected outcomes should align with adjunctive therapies. The outcome should enhance care evaluation by...
Patient outcomes reflect the patient's response to the goal rather than what the nurse aims to achieve. Terminology should be observable and measurable to avoid the reader's interpretation. The desired outcome should be realistic and achievable in the designated care timeframe. Expected outcomes should align with adjunctive therapies. The outcome should enhance care evaluation by...
01:27Secondary Motives: Power Motivation and Achievement Motivation
Power motivation and achievement motivation are two essential social motives identified by psychologist David McClelland. These motives influence behavior in various personal and professional contexts, shaping how individuals interact with others and pursue their goals.
Power motivation is characterized by the desire to influence, control, or have an impact on others. It is shaped by an individual's experiences, social environment, and cultural context. People with high power motivation are...
Power motivation is characterized by the desire to influence, control, or have an impact on others. It is shaped by an individual's experiences, social environment, and cultural context. People with high power motivation are...
01:29Self-Evaluation Maintenance Model
The Self-Evaluation Maintenance (SEM) model offers a psychological framework to understand how individuals’ self-esteem is influenced by the achievements of others, particularly those with whom they share close personal bonds. The SEM model operates when personal rather than social identity guides individuals. Central to this model is the notion that individuals have an inherent desire to preserve a favorable self-image, which is continuously shaped by interpersonal comparisons and...
01:27Halo Effect
The halo effect is a cognitive bias in which an individual's overall impression influences judgments about their specific traits. This psychological phenomenon leads people to associate positive characteristics with those they perceive as generally good and negative characteristics with those they view as bad. This effect is particularly influential in social perception, professional evaluations, and decision-making processes.The Psychological Basis of the Halo EffectThe halo effect is rooted...