A Questionnaire Survey on Hoa Sen University Students’ Positive and Negative Achievement Emotions in Learning

Abstract

Achievement emotions are defined as emotions that are directly linked to achievement activities or achievement outcomes. Achievement emotions are very important in the learning process because they can affect learning performances and learning outcomes. This study was carried out with the intention of examining the types of emotions that students experience and the affective factors related to achievement emotions. In the current study, three positive emotions, including enjoyment, hope, and pride, and three negative ones, including anger, anxiety, and boredom, are examined using an adapted version of the Achievement Emotions Questionnaire by Pekrun (2002). Students' emotional experiences are studied in learning-related achievement situations at university. Three hundred eighty students currently attending Hoa Sen University participated in the study. The results reveal that the students have a moderate and high level of positive and negative emotions. In addition, there is a significant difference in students' level of positive achievement emotions in terms of gender, hometown, and major and negative emotions in terms of hometown. Moreover, in-depth interview results reveal that most of the problems which lead to negative emotions are related to individual students. From the results, some educational implications are drawn to help minimize learners’ negative emotions and foster their positive emotions.