Background: According to Dweck's mindset theory, implicit beliefs (a.k.a. mindset) have an organizing function, bringing together mindset, achievement goals and effort beliefs in a broader meaning system. Two commonly described meaning systems are a growth-mindset meaning system with mastery goals and positive effort beliefs, and a fixed-mindset…

Background: Socio-economic status is one of the most important factors shaping students' motivation and achievement but has seldom been explored in relation to achievement goals. Aims: This study aimed to investigate whether mastery-approach goals explain the link between SES and key learning-related outcomes ("mediation") and whether…

Background: For over a decade, growth-oriented achievement goal constructs like potential-based goals and personal best goals have remained relatively unnoticed. This empirical study aims to highlight that goal theorists might be limiting themselves by not incorporating potential-based goals into their frameworks. Aims: The primary objective of…

Background and Aims: The hypothesis that study strategies can compensate for less study time in predicting learning outcomes has often been proposed but rarely tested empirically. Methods: In the present study, 231 university students reported their daily perceived time spent on self-study, study strategies (planning, monitoring, concentration and…

Background: Mastery and performance goals are typically measured as trait-like abstract goals. However, in their daily academic pursuits, students pursue more concrete goals. The pursuit of these goals is replete with obstacles that can lead to an action crisis. Aims: We examined how mastery and performance goals affect progress, effort and…

Background: Teachers' achievement goal orientations are known to affect teachers' beliefs and behaviour. In contrast, we know relatively little on how school climate is associated with teachers' achievement goals, even though theoretical ideas can be derived from self-determination theory and empirical research on the impact of goal structures.…

Background: Many studies on parental involvement in their children's education have limitations in cross-sectional designs in spite of examining the relationships between this involvement and achievement goal orientations. Thus, little is known about whether and how parental involvement affects achievement goal orientations over time. Aims: This…

Background: Goal setting is a core aspect of human behaviour that drives action. The intention to achieve one's goals, however, does not necessarily translate into desired outcomes. Although the mental contrasting with implementation intentions (MCII) strategy has demonstrated strong efficacy, limited investigations have been conducted in a…

Background: Work-related learning is particularly important at the start of graduates' careers. Preparing students for work-related learning is a chief aim of higher education, demonstrating its relevance when investigating the transition to work. Aim: This study aimed to investigate the role of personal factors for work-related learning during…

Background: The achievement goals set by parents and teachers play a crucial role in shaping students' personal goal orientation and academic performance. Previous studies have revealed discrepancies between achievement goals set by parents and teachers. However, limited research has examined how the congruence of perceived parents' and teachers'…

Background: Despite the growing popularity of transnational education, there is a dearth of quantitative research regarding how transnational students experience higher education. Aims: This comparative study sought to explore differences in educational experiences between transnational and onshore domestic students enrolled either at the…

Background: Previous research has shown that achievement goals affect the frequency of academic dishonesty. However, mixed findings suggest that especially the effect of performance goals might depend on contextual factors. Aims: We wanted to investigate whether crucial aspects of the achievement situation influence the magnitude of the effect of…

Background: Implicit theories are important belief systems that influence an individual's motivation and behaviour. In academic contexts, domain-general implicit theories of ability (e.g., intelligence) and their relation to self-regulated learning (SRL) have been examined. Aims: In this study, we followed a domain-specific approach and first…

Background: A growing literature focuses on reasons behind achievement goal endorsement, and mastery-approach goals (MG) specifically, and how these reasons influence academic performance. Past research provides evidence that student-level social value-related reasons behind MG moderate the MG-performance link in adolescents and young adults.…

Background: Students' mastery goals are positively related to adaptive learning behaviour. Moreover, these goals often mediate the relation between perceived classroom characteristics and academic achievement. Research generally shows a decline of academic achievement and mastery goals after transition to middle school. Creating a learning…