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The Development and Validation of Scales Assessing Students' Achievement Goal Orientations
Contemporary Educational Psychology
|May 13, 1998
Summary
This study introduces scales to measure three achievement goal orientations: task goal orientation, ability-approach goal orientation, and ability-avoid goal orientation in students. The scales demonstrate good reliability and validity for motivational research.
Area of Science:
- Educational Psychology
- Motivation Research
- Social Psychology
Background:
- Achievement goal theory is a significant area in motivational research.
- Key distinctions exist among different achievement goal orientations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate scales for measuring task goal orientation, ability-approach goal orientation, and ability-avoid goal orientation.
- To assess the internal consistency, stability, and validity of these scales.
Main Methods:
- Development of scales over an eight-year period by University of Michigan researchers.
- Studies conducted with seven diverse samples of elementary and middle school students.
- Utilized confirmatory factor analysis and comparisons with existing scales (e.g., Nicholls).
Main Results:
- Scales demonstrated strong internal consistency and stability.
- Evidence of construct validity, including convergent and discriminant validity, was established.
- Comparisons with Nicholls' scales supported convergent validity.
Conclusions:
- The developed scales are reliable and valid instruments for measuring achievement goal orientations.
- These scales can be effectively used in motivational research with students.
- The findings support the utility of distinguishing between task, ability-approach, and ability-avoid goal orientations.
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