The Effect of Students' Achievement Motivation on their Cognitive Performance Behaviour

Abstract

This has been an attempt to investigate the effect of achievement motivation on students cognitive activities. In the study, 200 SS II students were selected by stratified random sampling as participants. Achievement Motivation Scale, a 30-item multiple choice questions in chemistry (compiled from past General Certificate Education of Certificate Examination and Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination and a 25-item Attitude Scale for Chemistry were the instruments used to collect data. All the three instruments were validated through pilot study. Three Research Hypotheses were stated to guide the research. Pearson product Moment Corrleation Statistics was used to analyze data. It was found that both the Achievement Motivation Scale scores, the attitude scale scores and student perception of the teaching method scores show significant correlation to students academic achievement in chemistry. Theories of Achievement Motivation and behaviour modification were used to explain the findings from the study. Based on the findings, recommendation were made.

Keywords: Achievement Motivation; cognitive performance.

International Journal of Educational Research Vol. 3 (1) 2007 pp. 105-113