A Cognitive-behavioural Measure of Student Goal Setting in a Tertiary Educational Context

Abstract

This study investigated the psychometric properties of a newly developed measure, the Student Goals and Behaviour Questionnaire (SGBQ). The SGBQ is a unique measure in that it assesses both students' goal setting attitudes and behaviour within a tertiary education context. In other words, the SGBQ measures students' actual, rather than preferred academic goals. To date, no such instrument exists in the psychological and educational literature. The SGBQ, a modified version of Locke & Latham's (1990) Goal Setting Questionnaire (MGSQ), and Wood & Locke's (1987) measure of academic self-efficacy (ASEQ) were administered to 100 first-year Psychology students. With regard to construct validity, predicted moderate levels of convergence were found between the SGBQ factors, and MGSQ and ASEQ. It was also found that the SGBQ had predictive validity with respect to subsequent academic performance. Furthermore, a number of demographic characteristics, such as course of study and age were found to be associated with goal setting attitudes and behaviour. The SGBQ would seem to have some promise as an instrument for the assessment and monitoring of student goal setting.