Goal Orientation and Academic Performance in Adult Distance Education

Authors

  • Joyce Neroni Open University of the Netherlands http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4835-2155
  • Celeste Meijs Open University of the Netherlands
  • Ruslan Leontjevas Open University of the Netherlands
  • Paul A. Kirschner Open University of the Netherlands
  • Renate H.M. De Groot Open University of the Netherlands

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v19i2.3440

Keywords:

ALOUD study, adult distance students, achievement goal questionnaire, AGQ, work avoidance, mixed model analysis

Abstract

Research has shown the importance of goal orientation in predicting academic performance for children, adolescents, and college students in traditional educational settings. Studies on this relationship within adult distance education, however, are lacking. To fill this gap, the present study was conducted to investigate the relationship between goal orientation and academic performance in adult distance learners. A sample of N = 1128 distance university students (age 18-75 years) filled out an online questionnaire. Their exam grades were collected from the files of the Open University of the Netherlands (OUNL). A mixed model regression showed performance approach goal orientation to be a positive predictor of academic performance, whereas performance avoidance and work avoidance were negative predictors of academic performance. Non-significant results were found for mastery approach as well as for mastery avoidance. Implications of these results are discussed.

Author Biographies

Joyce Neroni, Open University of the Netherlands

Welten Institute – Research Centre for Learning, Teaching and Technology, Open University of the Netherlands, Heerlen, the Netherlands

Celeste Meijs, Open University of the Netherlands

Welten Institute – Research Centre for Learning, Teaching and Technology, Open University of the Netherlands, Heerlen, the Netherlands

Ruslan Leontjevas, Open University of the Netherlands

Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Open University of the Netherlands, Heerlen, the Netherlands

Paul A. Kirschner, Open University of the Netherlands

1. Welten Institute – Research Centre for Learning, Teaching and Technology, Open University of the Netherlands, Heerlen, the Netherlands

2. Learning & Educational Technology Research Unit, University of Oulu, Finland

Renate H.M. De Groot, Open University of the Netherlands

1. Welten Institute – Research Centre for Learning, Teaching and Technology, Open University of the Netherlands, Heerlen, the Netherlands

2. NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands

Published

2018-05-01

How to Cite

Neroni, J., Meijs, C., Leontjevas, R., Kirschner, P. A., & De Groot, R. H. (2018). Goal Orientation and Academic Performance in Adult Distance Education. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning, 19(2). https://doi.org/10.19173/irrodl.v19i2.3440

Issue

Section

Research Articles