Aj. Elliot et Ha. Mcgregor, Test anxiety and the hierarchical model of approach and avoidance achievement motivation, J PERS SOC, 76(4), 1999, pp. 628-644
This research was designed to incorporate the test anxiety (TA) construct i
nto the hierarchical model of approach and avoidance achievement motivation
. Hypotheses regarding state and trait TA were tested in 2 studies, and the
results provided strong support for the predictions. State TA (specificall
y, worry) was documented as a mediator of the negative relationship between
performance-avoidance goals and exam performance. The positive relationshi
p between performance-approach goals and exam performance was shown to be i
ndependent of TA processes. A series of analyses documented the conceptual
and functional convergence of trait TA and fear of failure (FOF), and furth
er validation of the proposed integration was obtained by testing trait TA/
FOF and state TA together in the same model. Mastery goals were positively
and performance-avoidance goals negatively related to long-term retention.