Goal Theory
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Description of Goal Theory
Goals Defined:
A goal is something that can enhance or affect a student's performance. There are two main characteristics of a goal: difficulty and specificity. Difficult goals enhance performance because they require a student to exert more effort. Specific goals direct attention and encourage strategic planning by the student.
Motivational Patterns of Goal Theory:
The concept behind goal theory are identifying the ways in which children are motivated. Goal Theory addresses what a student is trying to accomplish. There are two main aspects of the goal theory, mastery goals and performance goals.
Mastery Goals
Mastery goals focus on the child gaining a deep understanding of the knowledge by challenging themselves, focusing on making progress, and applying what they learn. Mastery goals focus on enduring learning. A student who has mastery goals is concerned with developing a deep understanding of the material. These goals are based on improving competence and making continual progress in the classroom. Mastery goals promote self-regulated learning. A student is willing to be challenged and take risks that will move them towards their goal. For example, in a ring toss game, these students would choose a challenging distance from the cone in which they might not always hit the target. They want to understand how to improve at the ring toss game, not just achieve immediate success.
Performance Goals
Performance goals focus on the ability to outperform others and success is not based on enduring learning. The outcome is the main priority of performance goal. Two types of performance goals are approach and avoidance.
A performance-approach goal focuses on working hard to gain a positive view from others. Grades and the ability to outperform others is extremely important to these types of students. One of the most important aspects of this approach is the immediate success of doing well. A student who utilizes performance-approach hopes to attain success with little effort. They want to prove their competence and high-ability. In the ring toss game, these students would make sure that they could get the ring on the cone every time by placing themselves close enough to the target.
A performance-avoidance goal focuses on avoiding negative judgments of others and avoiding embarrassment at all costs. Students with performance-avoidance goals choose to avoid tasks. These students do not put forth an effort to learn as they are afraid of not knowing or understanding the material. They do not want to risk embarrassing themselves. The learning of these students is affected in a negative way as they avoid tasks and they become less productive. This causes a negative cycle of anxiety for learning. In the ring toss game, these students will choose an impossible distance to take the focus off their ability.
Influences on Learning
Performance or mastery goals can be influenced by many factors: home, classroom, and a student's own motivational scheme. These influences can focus on the intrinsic or extrinsic values of motivation.
Mastery goal students are supported by a home environment where grades are not the number one priority. In the classroom, these goals can be fostered by discovery-based learning. These students are intrinsically motivated. They want to develop competence and demonstrate high ability.
Performance goals are mainly influenced by extrinsic motivation. The outcome is most important. Performance goal students will be influenced by a home where achievement and good grades are a high priority. They will be affected by the competitive nature of the classroom--either positively or negatively.
Teaching Methods
To promote mastery learning, lessons can viewed as learning opportunities for the students. The classroom teacher can provide opportunities for the students to participate in group-based assignments. To ensure a student's success, it is important to provide step-by-step instructions. The focus of classroom instruction is on understanding the material while striving to stretch the student's ability. In addition, it is important to have some performance goals for the classroom. This would provide motivation that some students may need. An example of a performance goal is math fact olympics. The math facts would be tested in a non-competitive manner allowing all students to earn ribbons as they completed each section.