Table_1_New Challenge, New Motivation? Goal Orientation Development in Graduates of Higher Track Schools and Their Peers in Vocational Training.DOCX

Many studies have demonstrated a decrease in mastery-approach goals and an increase in performance-approach goals after students’ transition from primary to secondary education. A theoretical explanation for this phenomenon is a deteriorating fit between a learner’s needs and environmental conditions. The purpose of this study was to further examine the development of students’ goal orientation after they graduated from a higher track secondary school and transitioned to university or vocational training as compared with peers who chose vocational training earlier. We also examined the fit between the students’ needs and the conditions in the new educational context to elaborate on the differential fit hypothesis. Data from 487 students and trainees who participated in a German longitudinal school study were available for our analyses. Latent change score models indicated a significant increase in mastery-approach and a decrease in performance-approach goals for higher track graduates after they transitioned to a new educational context, paralleled by an adequate fit between the learners’ needs and the new educational context. For their peers who started vocational training early, mastery-approach goals seem to remain stable, whereas performance-approach goals decreased over time. The results are discussed in the context of the stage-environment fit theory.

多项研究已证实，学生从小学升入中等教育阶段后，其掌握趋近目标（mastery-approach goals）得分会出现下降，而成绩趋近目标（performance-approach goals）得分则有所上升。针对该现象的一种理论解释为，学习者需求与所处环境条件间的匹配度逐渐恶化。本研究旨在进一步考察：高级中等教育学术轨道学校毕业生升入大学或接受职业培训后，其目标取向的发展变化，并与较早选择职业培训的同龄学生进行对比。同时，本研究还考察了学生需求与新教育环境间的匹配程度，以对差异匹配假说（differential fit hypothesis）进行深入阐释。本研究的分析数据来自一项德国学校纵向研究中的487名学生及受训者。潜在变化分数模型（Latent change score models）分析结果显示，高级中等教育学术轨道学校毕业生升入新教育环境后，其掌握趋近目标得分显著上升，成绩趋近目标得分显著下降，与此同时学习者需求与新教育环境间的匹配度处于合理水平。而对于较早开始职业培训的同龄学生而言，其掌握趋近目标得分大致保持稳定，成绩趋近目标得分则随时间推移有所下降。本研究结果结合阶段-环境匹配理论（stage-environment fit theory）展开了讨论。