Motive to Approach Success and Motive to Avoid Failure in Boys from Different Social Groups

Nygård, R. (1969). Motive to Approach Success and Motive to Avoid Failure in Boys from Different Social Groups. Scand. J. Educ. Res. 13, 222‐232.

Differences between social groups in achievement‐related motives were examined in a sample of 255 7th and 8th grade boys. The motive to avoid failure was measured by the Test Anxiety Scale for Children (Sarason et al., 1960), while the motive to approach success was anchored in the score on the TAT nAchievement Test (McClelland et al., 1953).

Analysis of regression revealed a clear relationship between social background and motive to avoid failure, higher social groups being less failure motivated (p<.005). This relationship seems to hold even when differences between the groups in intelligence are controlled (p<.05). The results of a corresponding analysis regarding the motive to approach success did not reach significance (.05<p<.10). There were, however, clear trends when measures for the two motives were combined. Thus, pupils with a high motive to approach success and a low motive to avoid failure made up an increasing proportion, and those with a low motive to approach success and a high motive to avoid failure, a decreasing proportion when going from lower to higher social groups.

     

Motivation to Approach Success (Ts) and Motivation to Avoid Failure (TF) at School 1

Gjesme, T. 1983. Motivation to Approach Success (Ts) and Motivation to Avoid Failure (Tf) at School. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research 27, 145‐164. The interaction effects of personality characteristics such as the pupils' achievement motives, level of ability, future time orientation (FTO), sex of S, and one situational determinant—the pupils' perceived intrinsic instrumentality of school activity (Pil)—were considered in relation to approach (Ts) and avoidance (Tf) motivation at school. The analyses of results, based on 524 pupils in the sixth grade in elementary school, showed that: the achievement motives were positively related to Ts and negatively related to Tf; girls had higher Tf than boys; FTO was negatively related to Tf, but not related to Ts; Pil was positively related to Ts, but not related to Tf. However, an ability‐by‐motives‐by‐sex of S effect on Ts indicated that success‐oriented high‐ability girls and moderate‐ability boys had the highest Ts at school. A number of other explainable interactions were also revealed.

     

The Achievement Motives Scale (AMS): theoretical basis and results from a first try‐out of a Czech form

The achievement motive concept refers to a relatively stable personality characteristic in terms of a capacity to anticipate affects in achievement situations. The motive to achieve success (M _s ) refers to the individual's capacity to anticipate positive affects, and the motive to avoid failure (M _f ) refers to a capacity to anticipate negative affects in achievement situations. Based, among other things, on the conceptualizations of motives, a measurement was constructed to tap the two aspects (M _s and M _f ) of motivation. Over the years the scale has been translated to several languages and used in a number of studies. The Czech version of the scale is an adapted translation of the English one, and was administered to 179 pupils in the sixth grade in 1989. Further, the subjects were retested after an interval of 12 weeks. The analyses indicate that the psychometric properties of the Czech version of AMS are promising.     

学生成就动机的形成及其训练

动机是非智力因素的核心成分，而成就动机又是动机的一个重要形式．当今成就动机研究几乎成了动机研究的同义语，关心学生成就动机的教育心理学家占据了动机研究的中心舞台．本文着重分析成就动机的涵义、影响成就动机形成与发展的因素以及培养成就动机的训练方法．     

维吾尔族大学生成就动机的特点及与中国汉语水平考试的关系

目的:探讨维吾尔族大学生成就动机的特点及与中国汉语水平考试的关系。方法:使用成就动机量表(AMS)对244名维吾尔族大学生进行调查。结果:维吾尔族大学生的成就动机水平在年级和城乡维度上存在显著差异,维吾尔族大学生的成就动机与其中国汉语水平考试相关不显著。结论:低年级维吾尔族大学生的成就动机高于高年级维吾尔族大学生的成就动机;来自农村维吾尔族大学生的成就动机高于来自城市的维吾尔族大学生;维吾尔族大学生的成就动机与中国汉语水平考试关系不大。     

The achievement flow motive as an element of the autotelic personality: predicting educational attainment in three cultures

Human behavior is directed by an implicit and an explicit motivational system. The intrinsic form of the implicit achievement motive has been demonstrated to predict the experience of flow. Thus, this achievement flow motive can be considered an integral component of the autotelic personality, posited in Flow Theory as dispositional difference in the propensity to experience flow. As implicit motivation predicts long-term behavioral trends and flow predicts quality of performance, the achievement flow motive should be predictive of a long-term goal pursuit such as educational attainment. This hypothesis is tested cross-culturally to shed some light on the universality of flow: Participants from Cameroon, Costa Rica, and Germany were asked about the level of education they attained. To assess their achievement flow motive, the Operant Motive Test was employed. After measurement equivalence was established, analyses revealed that, across all three cultures, the achievement flow motive explained variance in educational attainment independent of achievement values as measured by a scale of the Schwartz Value Survey. Consequently, as would be expected of an element of the autotelic personality, the achievement flow motive predicts long-term academic success.     

大学生入党动机的心理学分析

动机是人们行为的直接动力 ,是直接推动个体行为达到一定目标的内部动力 ,是引起人们行为的直接原因。个人的一切活动都是由一定的动机引起 ,并指向一定的目的的。对于一个积极要求入党的大学生而言 ,其入党的动机是什么 ,正确不正确 ,直接关系到他 (或她 )在入党目标达到以后的行为方式。为保证党的组织纯洁 ,保证党组织肌体的健康 ,高尚的入党动机就成为大学生入党的重要标准之一。发展党员时 ,要求申请人入党动机要端正明确 ,那么帮助他 (她 )在思想上入党就成为首要的 ,并且是至关重要的一项复杂而艰巨的任务     

Grouping in Education in Light of Theory and Results in Motivation

Abstract

Homogeneous and heterogeneous grouping as well as research on either have not taken into account the implications of the pupils’ achievement motives. This theoretical contribution attempts to analyze why some pupils take advantage or disadvantage of being grouped in a homogeneous class — and why others take advantage or disadvantage of being grouped in a heterogeneous class. Suggestions for new grouping procedure in education are offered. The principles guiding the new procedure are that the pupils should be grouped in a way which releases and utilizes the potential positive influence of the motive to approach success — and avoids the possible negative effects of the motive to avoid failure. Is it possible to create such an educational setting?     

SOCIAL COMPARISON IN PHYSICAL EDUCATION: AN EXAMINATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TWO FRAMES OF REFERENCE AND ENGAGEMENT,DISAFFECTION, AND PHYSICAL SELF‐CONCEPT

Drawing from theory and research into social comparison processes, the present study sought to determine children's motives for comparison in addition to the coexistence of class and individual comparisons in school physical education. The main and interactive effects of these types of comparisons were examined in relation to pupils’ physical self‐concept, as well as self‐reported behavioral engagement and disaffection in class. In total, 545 children (M_age = 13.89 years, SD = 1.57 years) from two schools in England completed the questionnaire. Moderated hierarchical regression analysis demonstrated that the higher a child's perception of his or her ability was compared with his or her classmates, the greater the level of engagement and physical self‐concept and the lower the level of disaffection. Interaction analysis showed that when perceived ability with reference to the class was low, a downward comparison with an individual enhanced engagement, but this was not the case when perceived ability was high. Findings suggest that further research into social comparison processes in this setting is warranted.     

Affective and motivational factors of learning in online mathematics courses

We investigated what factors would be related to students' achievement in mathematics courses offered at a virtual high school. This was an attempt to understand why some succeed and some do not as well as to suggest what should be done to help with student success. Seventy‐two students responded to a self‐report survey on motivation (ie, self‐efficacy, intrinsic value), mathematics achievement emotions (ie, anxiety, anger, shame, hopelessness, boredom, enjoyment, pride), and cognitive processes (ie, cognitive strategy use, self‐regulation). A three‐step hierarchical multivariate regression was employed to examine which of the factors predict student achievement. Results showed that motivation accounted for approximately 13% of the variance in student achievement and self‐efficacy was the significant individual predictor of student achievement. However, when achievement emotions were added to the analysis, self‐efficacy failed to predict student achievement and emotions accounted for 37% of the variance in student achievement. Cognitive strategy use and self‐regulation did not explain any additional variance in the final scores. Findings are discussed and implications for future research and development are also suggested.     

Motivational Factors and Predictors for Attending a Continuing Education Program for Older Adults

The objectives were to describe the stated motives of participants who enrolled in a program at the Open University for the Elderly (UnATI, in Portuguese), identify correlations between the stated motives and sociodemographic data, and find a set of predictors related to the listed motives. A total of 306 middle-aged and elderly adults aged 50 or older were surveyed through a sociodemographic questionnaire and a five-item scale to check their motives to enroll in the program. The following motivational factors were identified, in order of importance: enhancing general knowledge, investing in personal development, increasing social interaction, learning more in order to help others, and employing one's free time profitably. Age and years of schooling combined were strong predictors of participants seeking new knowledge. Being single and not retired was correlated with the motive Investing in Personal Development. Having attended elementary school only and being married was closely correlated to the motive Increasing Social Interaction. Employing One's Free Time Profitably was associated with single or widowed individuals with family income between 3.1 and 4.0 times the minimum wage. As for Learning More in Order to Help Others, no predictors were found for this motive. It was found that participants seek to satisfy a desire to learn/ know more, to be up-to-date, to exercise their rights as citizens, and to play an active role in society. Our data suggest that these are the assumptions that drive middle-aged and elderly adults to look for various types of educational programs.     

Gifted learning disabled students

Abstract

Up to 30 per cent of gifted students display a learning disability, with 10 per cent reading at two or more years below their grade level. They are referred to as being ‐gifted learning disabled’ or as having the dual exceptionalities of giftedness and learning disabilities. For these students, their learning disability is more likely to be recognised and targeted in teaching than their gifted ability.

The present study reviews their learning characteristics and explains these in terms of an information processing model of learning. Nine characteristics are addressed: their superior general intellectual ability in at least some domains of knowledge, a global wholistic preference in thinking, a negative academic self‐concept, low resilience in learning, patterns in motivation to learn orientation, their use of metacognifion, their ability to show what they know, their uneven rates of development, their high standards and goals, and the quality of their interpersonal interactions.

The paper uses these characteristics to recommend a set of procedures for identifying these students. It examines the influence that a learning disability can have on the display of gifted knowledge and describes how dynamic assessment procedures can be used to obtain a more accurate diagnosis. It describes the two main types of general ability profiles that emerge. Procedures for assessing creativity and divergent thinking, a learning disability, aptitude in particular areas, an intrinsic motivation to learn, self‐concept, metacognition and self management of learning are discussed.

To his teachers, Adam was a conundrum. He was a very quick thinker, but not in the ways that would help him excel academically. He had excellent knowledge of a range of subjects but this didn't seem to help him achieve academic success. His answers to questions were unexpected, although, when analysed, creative. On excursions he could be relied on to see ways around obstacles that arose; his teachers valued his ‘native intelligence’ on these occasions. It was less valued in classroom contexts in which they were developing a topic with a group and Adam would interject with ideas and questions that were either ‘marginally relevant’ or ‘further down the track’. They wished he would put his energy more into improving his spelling and writing ability, that were extremely low, and bis recall of the times tables.

Ann, an eight year old, was also perplexing to her teachers. In class she was ‘off task’ and daydreamed a lot. She did not finish most tasks, frequently lost her place and made many careless errors. Her distractability meant that she was frequently disruptive. As a consequence, her level of academic achievement was low. Her teacher interpreted her inattention and impulsivity as a lack of interest in learning and her preference to avoid tasks. As well, however, her teacher noticed her comparatively high level reading ability and her advanced oral language capacity and had difficulty reconciling the two sets of observations.     

Doing a Jigsaw Without the Picture

This paper is one teacher's account of an attempt to confront his own professional concerns through a process of critical reflection and classroom‐based self‐evaluation. The writer examines his own motives, as well as the pedagogical issues he faces teaching English to a low‐ability class. The account chronicles the writer's exploration of these issues through an experimental all day workshop on Romeo and Juliet, and concludes with some insights Into the process of curriculum change and the culture of the Institutions within which it takes place.     

Learning motivation and performance excellence in adolescents with high intellectual potential: what really matters?

In the development of performance excellence, the relative roles played by intellectual ability and motivation remain speculative. This study investigates the role played by general intelligence, school environment, self‐efficacy, and aspects of personal identity in the formation of learning motivation in German students attending the Gymnasium schools. Using self‐reports of academic achievement and scores on a shortened version of the Berlin intelligence structure test for adolescence to differentiate students as achievers or underachievers, ninth‐grade students were administered a battery of self‐report instruments, designed to measure learning motivation, school environment, self‐efficacy, and personal identity. After the posited factor structure was confirmed, factor scores were computed and then used as data in hierarchical regression analyses using learning motivation as the criterion variable. The results showed that the greatest predictors of learning motivation were variables related to personal identity‐style, rather than general intelligence, supporting the hypothesis that learning motivation is a moderator variable of intellectual achievement for students with intellectual giftedness, rather than an inherent component of giftedness.     

Alcohol Use and Drinking Motives Among Sanctioned and Nonsanctioned Students

This study examined differences in the relationship of drinking motives to drinking behavior among sanctioned and nonsanctioned 1st‐year students (N = 298). Results of hierarchical regression analyses indicated that for both sanctioned and nonsanctioned students, alcohol use was predicted by social and enhancement motives, and alcohol‐related consequences were predicted by social, enhancement, and coping motives. High levels of conformity motives predicted alcohol use and alcohol‐related consequences for sanctioned students only. Counseling implications are discussed.     

成就动机与学生学习

成就动机与学习成绩有正相关 ,激发学生的学习动机是提高学习成绩的前提条件之一 ;学习动机与成功概率密切相关 ,布置适合学生实际的学习任务 ,让学生以适度的“成功率意识”去从事学习 ,可激发学习动机。     

Performance in solving arithmetic problems: a comparison of children with different levels of achievement in mathematics and reading

The aim of the present study was to investigate the performance in arithmetic related to achievement levels in reading and mathematics. Basic arithmetical facts and multi‐step calculations were examined. The participants were 941 pupils aged 8 (N = 415), 10 (N = 274) and 13 (N = 252) years. The pupils were divided into four groups by standardized achievement tests. One group showed low achievement in both mathematics and reading (MLRL), a second group showed low achievement in mathematics only (ML‐only), a third group in reading only (RL‐only) and a fourth group showed normal achievement in both mathematics and reading (NA). The ML‐only and the MLRL groups did not differ significantly in basic arithmetical facts at any age level, but both groups performed below the RL‐only and NA groups. The two latter groups also performed similarly at all year levels. In multi‐step calculation all groups differed significantly at the lowest age level, with the NA as the group with the best achievement, followed by RL‐only, ML‐only and the MLRL group. At the two highest age levels the relations between the groups, in multi‐step calculation, were in accordance with the results regarding basic facts. The findings indicate, for both normal and low general mathematical ability, that low achievement in reading to a small extent interferes with the pupils’ development of arithmetic performance     

A meta‐analysis of the relationship between student attitudes towards reading and achievement in reading

A meta‐analysis of the relationship between attitudes in reading and achievement in reading was conducted to provide a statistical summary to the observed variability in the magnitude of previously reported effect sizes. A total of 32 studies, with a total sample size of 224,615 were used, and included a total of 118 effect sizes. A multi‐level approach was used in meta‐analysis to determine if variance in the magnitude of effect sizes could be partitioned to study (level 1) and moderator (level 2) levels by using a mixed model approach. Results from the meta‐analysis indicated that the mean strength of the relationship between reading attitudes and achievement is moderate (Z_r=.32), while stronger for students in elementary school (Z_r=.44) when compared with middle school students (Z_r=.24). Findings related to selected moderator variables are discussed, with suggestions for future research.