An integrative review of students' goal orientation, motivation and achievement

In recent years, numerous research studies have empirically examined students ’academic motivation from the perspective of goal orientation construct. This construct has emerged as a useful framework for understanding students ’motivation for, and engagement in schoolwork. However the conceptual framework is not uniform evolving from undimensional towards multidimensional ones. This paper has reviewed the classic and reformulated versions of this construct. Goal Orientation construct and its influence on students ’achievement, looking at assumptions, empirical evidences, inconsistencies and development of research in these years. Finally it evaluates implications in carrying some of these insufficiently verified principles into educational practices.