Different Methods, Different Results: Examining the implications of Methodological Divergence and Implicit Processes for Achievement Goal Research

da Costa, L.; Remedios, R.

Abstract

Achievement goal theory is one of the most popular theories of achievement motivation. Techniques researchers have used to assess goals include standardized questionnaires and interviews. One curious finding is that participants whose self-report questionnaire responses strongly indicate they operate with a performance goal do not make performance goal responses in subsequent interviews. In this article, we consider the nature of this divergence using a mixed methods approach and discuss how a third technique, the Implicit Association Test, might help address divergent goal responses. More broadly, we suggest that implicit measures may offer an additional and/or alternative technique for assessing the prevalence of psychological constructs thought to be underpinned by processes involving social cognition.

Citation

da Costa, L., & Remedios, R. (2014). Different Methods, Different Results: Examining the implications of Methodological Divergence and Implicit Processes for Achievement Goal Research. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 8(2), 162-179. https://doi.org/10.1177/1558689813495977

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Apr 1, 2014
• Deposit Date: Feb 11, 2014
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 7, 2015
• Journal: Journal of Mixed Methods Research
• Print ISSN: 1558-6898
• Electronic ISSN: 1558-6901
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 162-179
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1558689813495977
• Keywords: Achievement motivation, Goal theory, Implicit association tests, Self-presentation, Social cognition.
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1468995