Motivation: cognitive approach: Goal setting theory

Question 1

What is Goal Setting theory?

Answer 1

the idea that the goal is what the person is trying to achieve to satisfy their emotions and desires

Question 2

What do goals do?

Answer 2

they motivate people to close the gap between

current condition and ideal condition

Question 3

How does goal setting improve performance?

Answer 3

directing attention
increasing persistence
encouraging the development of new knowledge and strategies
increasing self-regulated learning

Question 4

What factors make goals effective?

Answer 4

SMART goals 
Specific
Measurable 
Attainable 
Relevant
Time bound

goal difficulty, acceptance and commitment to goals
feedback about goals

Question 5

What should teachers do regarding goal setting?

Answer 5

encourage students to participate in goal setting
set specific, clear goals for those with low motivation
set realistic but challenging goals
set goals which can be achieved in a short period of time
provide students with good feedback

Question 6

Motivation and Goal orientation

Answer 6

the types of goals we set influence the amount of motivation we have to reach them
4 types:
Work avoidant, Social, Master, Performance

Question 7

What are mastery goals?

Answer 7

like challenges
persist in difficulty
motivated to improve their knowledge and learn despite mistakes
focus on task and learning performance not achievement

Question 8

What are performance goals?

Answer 8

demonstrating ability and performing to others is main concern
focus on grades and winning
easily discourage if don’t get the grades
put in effort to outperform others

Question 9

Mastery VS Performance

Answer 9

don’t differ in intelligence
do differ in behaviour
teachers should aim for mastery
Mastery goal-oriented will achieve better
Performance goals may not be all bad - competition
Mastery persist in response to failure whereas performance act helplessly and have lower problem solving abilities

Question 10

what are mastery and performance goals split into?

Answer 10

Approach oriented

Avoidance oriented

Question 11

What is mastery approach oriented?

Answer 11

Aim to truly master academic tasks

Question 12

What is mastery avoidance oriented?

Answer 12

seek to avoid misunderstanding

Question 13

What is performance approach oriented?

Answer 13

motivated to show they have more ability than others

Question 14

What is performance avoidance oriented?

Answer 14

seek to avoid looking incompetent/stupid in eyes of others

Question 15

Elliot and Moller (2008)

Answer 15

performance goals may actually be good
they can increase self-esteem
inclusion of competition helps motivate some students
young children gain new info by comparing themselves to others

Question 16

Van Ypren, Elliot and Ansel (2009)

Answer 16

Mastery goals are used by 33% of individuals in an academic setting and 49% in work setting
Mastery -avoidance goals are most important to people as they want to avoid misunderstanding

Question 17

Brophy (2005)

Answer 17

Performance goals are bad and don’t exist
should move away from them as they impair performance
when students are asked about their goals no-one mentions performance goals

Question 18

Midgley, Kaplan and Middleton (2001)

Answer 18

Both mastery and performance goals are associated with high self-esteem

Question 19

Linnenbrink-Garcia et al (2012)

Answer 19

students may pursue both Mastery and Performance goals at once
not an and/or situation

Question 20

Educational implications

Answer 20

convince students that learning rather than grades is the purpose of academic work

emphasise practical importance of material

de-emphasise grades and other awards

use tasks that are challenging and related to real life

allow students to progress at own rate/set own goals