This manuscript demonstrates the value of understanding locus of control in higher education. Understanding this value provides educators with the ability to potentially predict academic outcomes and have the foresight to guide students to achievement. First, the manuscript identifies and explores the classic theories of motivation from the…

Motivation to study French was examined among first-year students using an extrinsic/intrinsic dichotomy approach to classify motivations. Students were found to be motivated by a wide variety of reasons, with personal or intrinsic reasons dominating. (Contains five references.) (Author/LB)

C. S. Dweck's achievement goals model was tested by examining relationships between individual differences in achievement-goal tendencies and perceived causality for 123 undergraduates (45 males and 78 females). The stronger each performance-goal tendency, the more unstable and controllable low ability was perceived. Inconsistencies with Dweck's…

Nine groups of undergraduate students were formed on the basis of one-third splits of the distributions of their scores on an internality-externality measure and on an achievement motive measure. Academic performance was measured by obtaining grade point averages for all subjects. Analysis of variance showed that internal students made higher…