Antecedents and consequences of teachers’ goal profiles in Australia and Israel

Helen M.G. Watt, Ruth Butler, Paul W. Richardson

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer-review

    22 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Studies drawing on Butler's (2012) Goal Orientations for Teaching framework show mastery and relational goals are beneficial, ability-avoidance maladaptive and inconsistent effects for ability-approach. We adopt a person-centered approach to discern the extent to which teachers pursue different goal combinations. In two studies of mid-career primary and secondary teachers (Ns = 476 Australian, 507 Israeli) we assessed via self-report surveys: teachers' achievement goals, initial motivations to teach, school contexts, professional engagement and instructional practices. Latent profile analyses distinguished four goal combinations per sample. In both, mastery and relational goals covaried as ‘task’ goals. Profiles with stronger ability than task goals were maladaptive for teachers and teaching, and in the Australian sample linked with poor initial ‘fallback’ career motivation. Profiles with stronger task than ability goals were most adaptive, and linked to more positive school climate. Implications are outlined for theory and practice.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number101491
    Number of pages14
    JournalLearning and Instruction
    Volume76
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Dec 2021

    Keywords

    • Instructional practice
    • Professional engagement
    • Profiles
    • School context
    • Teacher goals

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