Background
Grit has been recognized as one of the most essential character strengths in the educational context. Researchers suggest that students’ academic goal orientations significantly act as the motivational antecedents of grit. However, mixed results were shown regarding the significant links between different achievement goals and grit. It is also unclear regarding what extent academic goal orientations were associated with grit.
Hypotheses/Research Questions
The purpose of this paper was to systematically review the literature on academic goals and grit, covering mastery goal and performance goal, mastery approach/avoidance, and performance approach/avoidance goal.
Sample Characteristics and Sample Size
Systematic search via online databases was performed in May 2020. This meta-analysis synthesized 10 studies (N = 10,558) published between Jan 2007 and April 2020, documenting 49 correlations in both K-12 and higher education context.
Design
A systematic review and random effects meta-analytic approach was used.
Results
Mastery-approach goal was significantly and positively associated with grit and its two facets (interest and effort), while performance goal was only significantly and negatively associated with overall grit level. Mastery goal was positively associated with overall grit level and effort facet, but non-significantly associated with interest facet. Performance-avoidance goal, performance-approach goal, mastery-avoidance goal showed non-significant overall effect on grit.
Scientific Contribution
This will help educators and researchers to better understand how and whether academic goals serve as the motivational antecedents of grit across K-12 and university context. In order to maximize the benefits of academic goals for improving students’ grit level, current findings indicate that educators and researchers can pay particular attention to the mastery-approach goal orientation in school learning.