Intrinsic and extrinsic future goals: Their differential effects on students’ self-control and distal learning outcomes

Intrinsic and extrinsic future goals: Their differential effects on students’ self-control and distal learning outcomes

• Zhoc, Karen C. H. The Education University of Hong Kong
• King, Ronnel B. The Education University of Hong Kong
• Law, Wilbert The Education University of Hong Kong
• McInerney, Dennis M. The Education University of Hong Kong

Psychology in the Schools, 56(10), 1596-1613, 2019

John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

2019

• C Psychology & Learning
  • CB Psychology of Learning

Future Goals Intrinsic and Extrinsic Goals Self-control Self-determination Theory (SDT) Academic Achievement

• Hong Kong

• 1997.7 onwards

• Secondary Education

Research on intrinsic and extrinsic future goals has mostly focused on their impact on wellbeing with relatively lesser attention being focused on key learning outcomes. This study investigates how the pursuit of different future goals (i.e., society-, family-, career-, wealth-, and fame-oriented goals) affects students' self-control, and whether self-control mediates the relationship between future goals and distal learning outcomes (i.e., students' affect to school and academic achievement 1 year later). The study adopted a longitudinal design involving 8,354 secondary students from 16 schools in Hong Kong. Students had to complete English and Mathematics achievement tests and answer questionnaires measuring the key variables. Structural equation modeling analysis indicated intrinsic future goals were more adaptive compared to extrinsic ones. In particular, results revealed the importance of society-oriented goal on self-control and distal learning outcomes. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
[Copyright of Psychology in the Schools is the property of John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.]

• English

Journal Articles

• 00333085

• 10.1002/pits.22287

https://bibliography.lib.eduhk.hk/en/bibs/484c5d3d

2020-09-09