The purpose of this study was to examine children's cognitive-attributional and affective response patterns within competitive and individualistic goal structures. Findings showed that effort attributions covaried with outcome in the individualistic structure, whereas luck and outcome covaried in the competitive structure. (Author/GK)

Three systems of motivation (ability-evaluative, task mastery, and moral responsibility) and their implicit value orientations shared by students and teachers are defined. This qualitative perspective relates to distinct cognition networks, involving goals and values, attributions, and strategy beliefs. Student motivation and teacher motivation…

A study involving 176 secondary school students was undertaken to determine how specific motivational processes are related to the salience of mastery and performance goals in classroom settings. Findings suggest that classroom goal orientation may facilitate maintenance of adaptive motivation patterns when students adopt salient mastery goals.…

Fifth and sixth graders performed at a high or low level on a novel achievement task within a competitive or individual goal structure. The type and frequency of children's thoughts were assessed. Children made more ability attributions in the competitive condition and more effort attributions in the individual condition. (Author/BS)