Effects of achievement goals on learning interests and mathematics performances for kindergarteners

BackgroundStudies have investigated the effects of achievement goals on learning interests and mathematics performance above the elementary-school level. However, few studies have explored this topic among kindergarteners based on sound theoretical frameworks.MethodsThrough the enrollment of 15 kind...

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Main Author: Chung Chin Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1156098/full
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author Chung Chin Wu
author_facet Chung Chin Wu
author_sort Chung Chin Wu
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundStudies have investigated the effects of achievement goals on learning interests and mathematics performance above the elementary-school level. However, few studies have explored this topic among kindergarteners based on sound theoretical frameworks.MethodsThrough the enrollment of 15 kindergarten teachers and 180 kindergarteners, this study re-validated newly developed measurements of kindergarteners’ achievement goals and learning interests and used these measures to further clarify the effects of achievement goals on learning interests and mathematics performances using structural equation modeling.ResultsThe results indicate that (1) task-approach goals have positive effects on situational interest and advanced arithmetic performance, whereas task-avoidance goals have positive effects on individual interest. (2) Self-based goals have null effects on most learning interests and mathematics performance, but they have significant negative effects on numbering and counting performance. However, most of these null effects represent negative tendencies. (3) Other-approach goals have positive effects on situational interest and basic arithmetic performance, whereas other-avoidance goals have null effects on these outcomes but have an almost significant positive effect on numbering and counting performance. (4) Task-based goals and self-approach goals are generally beneficial for learning interests and mathematics performance.ConclusionThese results suggest that task-based goals and other-approach goals may be implemented with consideration of the potential long-term detrimental effects of social comparison on learning outcomes. Furthermore, possible negative effects of self-based goals must be monitored to prevent them from undermining learning outcomes. This study revealed consistent, inconsistent, and new evidence that, respectively, verifies, complements, and contradicts findings on the learning outcomes of students above the elementary-school level.
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spelling doaj.art-1588b194c3634067a90281b6d9f2e9ed2023-05-17T05:26:57ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782023-05-011410.3389/fpsyg.2023.11560981156098Effects of achievement goals on learning interests and mathematics performances for kindergartenersChung Chin WuBackgroundStudies have investigated the effects of achievement goals on learning interests and mathematics performance above the elementary-school level. However, few studies have explored this topic among kindergarteners based on sound theoretical frameworks.MethodsThrough the enrollment of 15 kindergarten teachers and 180 kindergarteners, this study re-validated newly developed measurements of kindergarteners’ achievement goals and learning interests and used these measures to further clarify the effects of achievement goals on learning interests and mathematics performances using structural equation modeling.ResultsThe results indicate that (1) task-approach goals have positive effects on situational interest and advanced arithmetic performance, whereas task-avoidance goals have positive effects on individual interest. (2) Self-based goals have null effects on most learning interests and mathematics performance, but they have significant negative effects on numbering and counting performance. However, most of these null effects represent negative tendencies. (3) Other-approach goals have positive effects on situational interest and basic arithmetic performance, whereas other-avoidance goals have null effects on these outcomes but have an almost significant positive effect on numbering and counting performance. (4) Task-based goals and self-approach goals are generally beneficial for learning interests and mathematics performance.ConclusionThese results suggest that task-based goals and other-approach goals may be implemented with consideration of the potential long-term detrimental effects of social comparison on learning outcomes. Furthermore, possible negative effects of self-based goals must be monitored to prevent them from undermining learning outcomes. This study revealed consistent, inconsistent, and new evidence that, respectively, verifies, complements, and contradicts findings on the learning outcomes of students above the elementary-school level.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1156098/fullachievement goalgoal orientationkindergartenerlearning interestmathematics performance
spellingShingle Chung Chin Wu
Effects of achievement goals on learning interests and mathematics performances for kindergarteners
Frontiers in Psychology
achievement goal
goal orientation
kindergartener
learning interest
mathematics performance
title Effects of achievement goals on learning interests and mathematics performances for kindergarteners
title_full Effects of achievement goals on learning interests and mathematics performances for kindergarteners
title_fullStr Effects of achievement goals on learning interests and mathematics performances for kindergarteners
title_full_unstemmed Effects of achievement goals on learning interests and mathematics performances for kindergarteners
title_short Effects of achievement goals on learning interests and mathematics performances for kindergarteners
title_sort effects of achievement goals on learning interests and mathematics performances for kindergarteners
topic achievement goal
goal orientation
kindergartener
learning interest
mathematics performance
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1156098/full
work_keys_str_mv AT chungchinwu effectsofachievementgoalsonlearninginterestsandmathematicsperformancesforkindergarteners