Competitiveness: Dimensions, Gender, and Association With Achievement Goal Orientations

• In Event: Roundtable Session 11
  In Roundtable Session: Achievement Goals and Motivations in Context

Abstract

210 junior-high students completed questionnaires assessing goal orientations, perception of goal structure, and competitiveness. The preliminary analysis revealed that competitiveness was two-dimensional: as a means, oriented toward participating in competitive situations; and oriented toward the outcome with the goal of winning. Controlling for classroom goal structure and gender differences, competitiveness predicted achievement goals. Specifically, competitiveness-means was associated with mastery goal and performance-approach, while competitiveness-win was associated with performance-approach and performance-avoidance goals. Structural equation modeling supported the hypothesis that gender differences may elicit different approaches toward competition, which in turn lead to different achievement goals. The results imply that competition with the objective of participation may promote adaptive goals, whereas competition aimed toward winning may lead to less adaptive goals.

Authors

• Nir Madjar, Bar-Ilan University

• Michael P. Weinstock, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

• Dana Libman-Frangi, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev