The relationship between goal orientation and performance in task achievement setting.

This study examined the relationships between goal orientations (learning, outcome, approval orientation) and performance in task achievement setting. Players of the varsity badminton teams were used as subjectsand data were gathered at the competition. Study 1 examined the postulated model : a sens e of belonging --> goal orientation --> self-efficacy --> practice behavior --> performance. The indirect effect of a sense of belonging on performanc e was revealed in two paths : the first mediated variables were learning or ientation and practice behavior, and the others were outcome orientation an d self-efficacy. Outcome orientation had a positive effect on performance, but approval orientation didn't show any effect on it. Study 2 investigated the change processes of a year of motivational variables and practice beha vior. High and low performance groups were used as an independent variable and the variable of the previous year was covariated. The results of covari ate analysis marginally showed the main effect of performance in approval o rientation while those who were low in performance increased it. These find ings were discussed in the light of the discrepancy effect of performance g oal on achievement.