Achievement Goal Theory

Question 1

Who proposed the Achievement Goal Theory?

Answer 1

Nicholls (1984)

Question 2

What are the aims of the AGT

Answer 2

Aims to understand the psychological constructs that energize, direct, and regulate achievement behaviour

Question 3

What does the AGT propose?

Answer 3

Achievement goals govern achievement beliefs, decision making, and behavior (e.g., effort, time). Overall goal of action = develop and demonstrate competence and avoid demonstrating incompetence.

Question 4

Define Competence?

Answer 4

Competence is the conception of ability, which can be: 1. Undifferentiated - ability and effort not differentiated 2. Differentiated - ability and effort differentiated

Question 5

How does Nicholls (1984) suggest an individual can develop a personal theory of achievement

Answer 5

Perceptions and beliefs about how things work in achievement situations (e.g., education, sport) shape an individual’s beliefs about how to achieve success and avoid failure.

Question 6

What if using a differentiated approach?

Answer 6

Task involvement

Question 7

What if using a undifferentiated approach?

Answer 7

Ego involvement

Question 8

Task vs. Ego State of Goal Involvement

Answer 8

Question 9

What is motivational climate?

Answer 9

The situation plays a central role in the motivation process – i.e., structure of an achievement environment can make it more or less likely an individual will be task or ego involved.

Question 10

Task-involving achieving cues results in…

Answer 10

A mastery criteria

Question 11

Ego-involving achievement cues results in…

Answer 11

Performance criteria

Question 12

What is the criteria of success and failure both both mastery and performance climate

Answer 12

Mastery: Self referenced and Task-involving

Performance: Other referenced and ego involving