ACHIEVEMENT GOALS AS A MEASURE OF MOTIVATION IN UNIVERSITY-STUDENTS

This was a descriptive study of the motivational orientations of first year university students, using as its theoretical base the construct of mastery and performance goals, plus an additional goal of academic alienation. Scales were developed to measure these goals. Dependent variables included a positive attitude toward the course students were taking, willingness to tackle difficult tasks, and reported use of effective metacognitive strategies. A series of analyses demonstrated the usefulness of goals in differentiating students' motivational orientations. The consistency of the results was highlighted with the use of three independent samples (containing 271, 356, and 266 students). In addition, the relationship between students' perceived ability and their motivation was examined. Also, the consequences of students' simultaneous orientation toward mastery and performance goals were explored. (C) 1994 Academic Press, Inc.