Peer cooperation and competition are both positively linked with mastery-approach goals: An achievement goal...

Research on the predictors of mastery-approach goals has focused primarily on the role of internal psychological and teacher-related factors. However, the role of one's peers, specifically peer cooperation and competition, has seldom been explored.

Peer cooperation and competition could be studied at either the individual- or school-level. The present study examined whether individual-level and school-level peer cooperation and competition were associated with mastery-approach goals.

Data came from 565,732 students nested within 20,227 schools across 75 countries.

Doubly latent multilevel structural equation modelling was used. We modelled peer cooperation and competition at both the individual and school levels.

In line with expectations, both individual-level and school-level peer cooperation were positively associated with mastery-approach goals. Surprisingly, individual and school-level peer competition were also positively linked with mastery-approach goals. It seems that viewing competition as purely maladaptive might be an oversimplification, as competition among peers might also facilitate self-improvement and mastery.

This study highlights the importance of peers in students' pursuit of mastery-approach goals. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of peer cooperation and the need for a more nuanced consideration of peer competition.