Achievement motivation of Brazilian students

Abstract

The objectives of this study were twofold: (1) to conduct a survey of the typical achievement motivation level of Brazilian high-school students, (2) to conduct an experimental achievement motivation training program with high school students. The survey sample consisted of 178 boys and 276 girls who responded to a projective measure of achievement motivation. The results showed that Brazilian 10th grade girls score significantly higher than boys on achievement motivation, and that the girls scored about the same as Brazilian and American college students. The training program consisted of group counseling sessions capitalizing on: (a) training to think in terms of achievement categories; (b) identification with high-achievement models; and (c) use of games. The experimental group was made up of 17 boys and 16 girls and the control group was made up of 12 boys and 13 girls. Dependent variables for pretest and posttest were the achievement motivation projective measure and school grades taken at four times during the school year. The results showed significant increases from pretest to posttest on the projective measure of achievement motivation for the experimental group p < .001, but not so for the control group. Results regarding school grades revealed a significant increase in the experimental group from the first bimester to second bimester p < 0.05, but no significant subsequent changes thereafter; there were no significant changes in the control group. The results are discussed in terms of cultural influences upon sex differences and difficulties in measuring school achievement. The experimental training program was successful in raising achievement motivation scores.