The Interplay Between Students’ Achievement Motivation and Academic Performance: A Longitudinal Study

• In Event: Poster Session 14
  In Poster Session: Poster Session: Motivation

Abstract

The current study examines the interplay between achievements goals, self-efficacy, and academic performance among 238 business students over a period of three year. Data analyses showed that students’ self-efficacy and performance-approach goals were approximately uncorrelated with exam performances in the first year of study. However, the synchronous correlations for these relationships increased over time and were found to be statistically significant in the second and third years of study. Tests of the relations using cross-lag models indicated that good exam performance predicted high scores on performance-approach goals and self-efficacy in the following year. The results may indicate that students adapt their goals and expectations according to their mastery experiences.

Authors

• Christian Brandmo, University of Oslo

• Gunnar Bjørnebekk, The Norwegian Centre for Child Behavioral Development