The Role of Social Goals in Students’ Academic Help-Seeking and -Giving Among Peers

• In Event: The Role of Peers and Context in Student Motivation

Abstract

The present study examined the role of social achievement goals in academic help giving among peers within a high school. Students (n = 794) filled out surveys assessing their social goals, how often they are asked for help by their peers, and the type of help they gave to peers (instrumental vs. expedient). Controls included students’ grade point average, popularity, and personal help seeking preferences. Results demonstrated positive benefits of social mastery goals on students’ reports of how often they were asked for help and type of help given to their peers and negative impacts of social performance-avoidance goals on help giving. The findings complement achievement goal theory and provide a more comprehensive understanding of academic help seeking.

Authors

• Kara A. Makara, University of Michigan

• Stuart A. Karabenick, University of Michigan