Achievement goals and optimal motivation: Testing multiple goal models

Currently, there is a debate about which types of achievement goals promote optimal motivation, A number of theorists argue for a mastery, goal perspe ctive focusing on the adaptive consequences of mastery goals and the malada ptive consequences of performance goals. Others endorse a multiple goal per spective in which both mastery and performance goals can be beneficial. The purpose of the present investigation was to review why this debate has eme rged and to offer a critical test of the mastery versus multiple goal persp ectives, In Study 1, a correlational approach was used to identify the opti mal goals for college participants to adopt for a learning activity. In Stu dy 2, an experimental approach was used to identify the optimal goals to as sign for the same activity. Each study revealed benefits of both mastery an d performance goals, providing support for the multiple goal perspective.