Background: The link between achievement goals and achievement emotions is well established; however, research exploring potential mediators of this relationship is lacking. The control-value theory of achievement emotions (Pekrun, 2006, "Educational Psychology Review," 18, 315) posits that perceptions of control and value mediate the…

Learning is an act of hope. Although adults enter learning experiences from many frames of emotion and cognitive beliefs, each views this experience as the purposeful choice for a new and different future, a future of hope and possibilities. For adult learners, the pursuit of higher education is a choice and a life-changing engagement. Given the…

Attributional (explanatory) thinking involves the appraisal of factors that contribute to performance and is instrumental to motivation and goal striving. Little is understood, however, concerning attributional thinking when multiple causes are involved in the transition to new achievement settings. Our study examined such complex attributional…

Undergraduate students (n=178) from a variety of academic disciplines completed the Inviting-Disinviting Index (IDI) to measure the degree of inviting and disinviting behavior addressed to oneself and others. The hypothesis that people tend to be more disinviting to themselves than they are to others was supported. (JPS)

The role of affect in self-regulated learning was explored, focusing on the effects of two motivational strategies, defensive pessimism and self-handicapping, on the motivational outlook of college students (n=126), use of learning strategies, and performance. It was found that these strategies, which are used to regulate the affective outcomes…

The study of relationships between action control, motivation control, perceptions of course directions, and students' goals for 92 Australian undergraduates revealed different patterns for direction and effort and changing patterns from task on-set to off-set. Overall higher levels of effort and performance appear to require positive appraisals…

Compared reports of gay and heterosexual male college students about particular behaviors and feelings during childhood and adolescence. Results were interpreted as providing general support for Bell's heterogamy principle that regardless of one's sexual orientation, romantic attachments will be to people perceived different from one's self.…

Describes young people of today as new subculture of youth that is more global and culturally independent than previous generations. Presents eight characteristics that are representative of students in focus groups conducted on college campuses. Suggests four areas in which changes might be made in college placement centers and recruiting…

The term "conative" is used to describe constructs that span both motivational and volitional aspects of human behavior, distinguished from constructs that emphasize cognition and affection. Among the conative constructs are achievement strivings, beliefs about self-esteem and self-efficacy, interests and attitudes about learning,…

In April 1976, the National Conference on Outdoor Pursuits in Higher Education convened to re-examine the potential effectiveness of a small group in focusing on identifiable issues and program possibilities at the college level. The conference, which was loosely structured and held to a limited participation, featured presentations on outdoor…