An experiment involving 30 sixth graders with learning disabilities in mathematics tested the hypothesis that participation in goal setting enhances achievement outcomes. Ss received subtraction training that included instruction and practice opportunities over several sessions. Some Ss set proximal performance goals each session, others had goals…

The effects of performance-contingent rewards and proximal goals on children's task motivation, self-efficacy, and skillful performance were compared in a study of elementary school students. Results indicated that combining rewards with goals resulted in the highest self-efficacy and skill performance. (Author/DF)

Sixth-graders learning disabled in mathematics (N=30) received subtraction training that included instruction and practice opportunities. Some children set proximal performance goals, others had comparable proximal goals assigned, and some received training without goals. Participation in goal setting led to the highest self-efficacy and…

Social comparative information and proximal goals' influence on skillful performance and percepts of self-efficacy were examined in low-achieving children in arithmetic. A significant main effect on perceived efficacy due to proximal goals was found. Problem-solving goals and comparative information treatments together resulted in the highest…

Self-regulation, the systematic effort to direct thoughts, feelings, and actions towards the attainment of one's goals, is receiving importance in the psychological and educational literatures. Goals are involved across the different phases of self-regulation, first as forethought, then in performance control, and finally in self-regulation. This…

A general model of academic self-regulation is proposed that emphasizes the roles of goals, self-efficacy, and learning strategies. Within this framework, the contributions of two variables hypothesized to affect self-regulation are highlighted. One variable is strategy value information, or information about the usefulness of a strategy as an aid…

Self-regulation refers to the process whereby students activate and sustain cognitions, behaviors, and affects, which are systematically oriented toward attainment of goals. Effective self-regulation requires that students have goals and the motivation to attain them, and maintain a sense of self-efficacy for learning and performing well. A social…

Self-regulation refers to the process whereby students activate and sustain cognitions, behaviors, and affects, which are systematically oriented toward attainment of goals. Effective self-regulation requires that students have goals and the motivation to attain them, and make attributions (beliefs about the causes of outcomes) that enhance…

Discusses motivational processes as they apply to educational contexts. Defines motivation and compares it to other constructs. Provides a brief history of motivation theory and reviews important trends and areas in motivation research. Suggests four areas that future research might address: constructivism and learning, long-term motivation,…

Thirty-three gifted fourth graders received writing strategy instruction and were given a goal of learning to use the strategy of writing paragraphs. The children who received feedback on their progress achieved better writing outcomes and transfer than children who did not. These children judged their self-efficacy for writing improvement higher…

Two studies investigated how goals and self-evaluation affect motivation and achievement outcomes. In both studies, fourth-grade students received instruction and practice on fractions over sessions. Students worked under conditions involving either a goal of learning how to solve problems (learning goal) or a goal of merely solving them…

The influence of goal setting and progress feedback on self-efficacy and writing achievement was investigated for 60 fifth-grade children (33 girls and 27 boys) from three classes in two elementary schools. The sample included 37 White, 20 Black, two Hispanic American, and one Asian American students. The students received writing strategy…

Goal setting is examined as an influence on student learning and self-evaluation. Goal setting results in increased motivation, on-task behavior, effort, and persistence and conveys information concerning individual performance capabilities and personal accomplishments. (JN)

This paper describes an experiment that investigated the effects of goals and self-evaluation on self-regulation processes and achievement outcomes of (n=44) fourth grade students who received instruction and practice on fraction operations. Half of the students were provided with the goal of learning how to solve problems (learning goal) and the…

The concept of self-regulation--the process whereby students activate and sustain behaviors and cognitive paths which are systematically oriented toward attainment of learning goals--is increasing in importance among educators. Self-regulation includes activities such as attending to instruction; organizing, coding, and rehearsing information;…