title: Potential-based achievement goals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Self-based achievement goals use one's own intrapersonal trajectory as a standard of evaluation, and this intrapersonal trajectory may be grounded in one's past (past-based goals) or one's future potential (potential-based goals). Potential-based goals have been overlooked in the literature to date.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The primary aim of the present research was to address this oversight within the context of the 3 × 2 achievement goal framework.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Study 1 sample was 381 US undergraduates; the Study 2 sample was 310 US undergraduates.
  
  
  METHODS
  In Study 1, we developed scales to assess potential-approach and potential-avoidance goals and tested their factorial validity with exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. In Study 2, we used confirmatory factor analysis to test both the separability of past-based and potential-based goals and their higher order integration within the self-based category.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Study 1 supported the factorial validity of the potential-approach and potential-avoidance goal scales. Study 2 supported the separability of past-based and potential-based goals, as well as their higher order integration within the self-based category.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This research documents the utility of the proposed distinction and paves the way for subsequent work on antecedent and consequences of potential-approach and potential-avoidance goals. It highlights the importance of focusing on distinct types of growth-based goals in the achievement goal literature.
authors: University of Rochester, New York, USA.|King AbdulAziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Elliot
authors: University of Reading, UK.
authors: Kou
authors: K
authors: Murayama
authors: King AbdulAziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors: Ahmed
authors: A
authors: Kobeisy
authors: University of Munich, Germany.
authors: Stephanie
authors: S
authors: Lichtenfeld
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D000293:Adolescent; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Achievement goal; growth; past; potential; self-based; standard