Special Edition paper: Talking methods in achievement goal research

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a sense of methodological unrest in the field of achievement goal research, a prominent theory of achievement motivation. In particular, the predominant use of questionnaires in measuring students’ achievement goals has come under closer scrutiny. Potential methodological weaknesses have included researcher-imposed development and measurement of achievement goal constructs, respondents’ masked misunderstanding of questionnaire items, and a continued potential for demand characteristics. It has been suggested that some of these possible methodological weaknesses can be addressed using interview methods. This paper explores the extent to which using interviews may be able to overcome the challenges posed by questionnaires for measuring students’ goals for studying.