Different Methods, Different Results: Examining the implications of Methodological Divergence and Implicit Processes for Achievement Goal Research

da Costa, L.; Remedios, R.

doi:10.1177/1558689813495977

Different Methods, Different Results: Examining the implications of Methodological Divergence and Implicit Processes for Achievement Goal Research

da Costa, L.; Remedios, R.

Authors

L. da Costa

R. Remedios

Abstract

Achievement goal theory is one of the most popular theories of achievement motivation. Techniques researchers have used to assess goals include standardized questionnaires and interviews. One curious finding is that participants whose self-report questionnaire responses strongly indicate they operate with a performance goal do not make performance goal responses in subsequent interviews. In this article, we consider the nature of this divergence using a mixed methods approach and discuss how a third technique, the Implicit Association Test, might help address divergent goal responses. More broadly, we suggest that implicit measures may offer an additional and/or alternative technique for assessing the prevalence of psychological constructs thought to be underpinned by processes involving social cognition.

Citation

da Costa, L., & Remedios, R. (2014). Different Methods, Different Results: Examining the implications of Methodological Divergence and Implicit Processes for Achievement Goal Research. Journal of Mixed Methods Research, 8(2), 162-179. https://doi.org/10.1177/1558689813495977

Journal Article Type	Article
Publication Date	Apr 1, 2014
Deposit Date	Feb 11, 2014
Publicly Available Date	Jul 7, 2015
Journal	Journal of Mixed Methods Research
Print ISSN	1558-6898
Electronic ISSN	1558-6901
Publisher	SAGE Publications
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	8
Issue	2
Pages	162-179
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1177/1558689813495977
Keywords	Achievement motivation, Goal theory, Implicit association tests, Self-presentation, Social cognition.

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Copyright Statement
da Costa, L. and Remedios, R. (2014) 'Different methods, different results : examining the implications of methodological divergence and implicit processes for achievement goal research.', Journal of mixed methods research., 8 (2). pp. 162-179. Copyright © 2013 The Authors. Reprinted by permission of SAGE Publications.