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Self-worth protection in achievement motivation: Performance effects and attributional behavior
Citation
Thompson, T and Davidson, JA and Barber, JG, Self-worth protection in achievement motivation: Performance effects and attributional behavior, Journal of Educational Psychology, 87, (4) pp. 598-610. ISSN 0022-0663 (1995) [Refereed Article]
DOI: doi:10.1037/0022-0663.87.4.598
Abstract
Two experiments tested central assumptions of the self-worth theory of achievement motivation. This theory states that certain students, known as self-worth protective students, will voluntarily withdraw effort in achievement situations in which poor performance is likely to be attributed to low ability. Thereby, a sense of self-worth is protected. Self-worth theory also states that these students will perform well in situations in which a mitigating excuse allows poor performance to be attributed to a factor that is unrelated to ability. Experiment 1 confirmed that self-worth protective students perform well following failure that allows a face-saving opportunity but perform poorly following failure that does not allow face-saving. The results of Experiment 2 confirmed that the poor performance of self-worth protective students following failure is associated with a lesser tendency to assume personal responsibility for failure. These findings are discussed in terms of strategies for modifying the achievement-limiting behaviors of self-worth protective students.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Research Division: | Psychology |
Research Group: | Cognitive and computational psychology |
Research Field: | Sensory processes, perception and performance |
Objective Division: | Expanding Knowledge |
Objective Group: | Expanding knowledge |
Objective Field: | Expanding knowledge in human society |
UTAS Author: | Thompson, T (Dr Ted Thompson) |
UTAS Author: | Davidson, JA (Dr John Davidson) |
ID Code: | 6064 |
Year Published: | 1995 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 47 |
Deposited By: | Psychology |
Deposited On: | 1995-08-01 |
Last Modified: | 2011-08-25 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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