ACHIEVEMENT GOALS - A SITUATIONAL-CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS

Recent studies have indicated that the generalizability of traditional theory of achievement motivation across cultures is considerably limi ted. Empirical evidence from various cultures points out that there ar e cross-cultural differences in the meaning of achievement that play a crucial role in determining the achievement efforts of the people in respective cultures. The present study is a step towards delineating m ore fully the role of meaning in directing achievement behavior across different groups within the Indian cultural context. It investigated the effects of perceived sense of self and perceived expectations of o n the preferences for achievement goals in individualistic, familial, and societal spheres among male and female adolescents and young adult s. The results indicated that the expectations held by the significant others (e.g., parents, teachers, peers) and age level were the most p owerful determinants of the perceived importance of achievement goals. In addition, gender, age, and sense of self evinced joint influences on the preferences for certain achievement goals. The findings are dis cussed in the light of a situational-contextual model of achievement m otivation, and implications for understanding and managing motivation in multicultural perspective are indicated.