Academic Setting and Social Motivation: Stability and Changes of Goal Structures, Social Goals, and Engagement

• In Event: Roundtable Session 30
  In Roundtable Session: Social Processes in Students’ Motivation and Engagement

Abstract

The role of classroom goal structures in promoting students' social goal, emotional and behavioral engagement was investigated in two studies (N's = 317, 223). Study 1 was based on a cross-sectional design among 6th graders and revealed that teachers’ emphasis on mastery goals was associated with social development goals and aspects engagement, whereas emphasis on performance goals was associated with social demonstration goals. In study 2, the participants completed surveys at the beginning and end of a school year. The results replicated the findings of study 1, and indicated high stability of social goals throughout the year. Cross-lagged analysis revealed that social development goals promoted change in emotional engagement, while behavioral engagement promoted changes in social development and demonstration-avoidance goals.

Author

• Nir Madjar