Influence on Learning & Achievement: 

Performance Approach students are primarily focused on their performance in relation to their peers, and appearing compitent to the teacher. This orientation can manifest due to many different circumstances, for example: if a student is embarrassed by the teacher, or from their failure, then characteristics of this oreintation may manifest. 

Students who fall under this orientation typically:

• Are Less focused on the mastery

• May not retain information as well as the mastery orientation, this is due to the fact that many do not retain the information after needing it for an exam or assignment. 

• They tend to avoid challenges. 

What are the causes & effects of Performance Approach? 

Causes of Performance Approach:

 The performance approach allows students to demonstrate their learning relative to other individuals. Students tend to develop this approach when they are compared to their peers, it becomes more about their ability than comprehension (Ames & Archer, 1988, p260). Causing them to become concerned with their performance in comparison to others.

•  Concerned about their performance and their grades. This means that the student is extrinsically motivated. 

• Students want to find the most effective way to achieve their goals.

• Highly value academic work

• Highly concerned with their 

Effects of Performance Approach:

• Students will often use strategies that are not likely to foster a deep understanding of the learning (Midgley, 2001). 

•  Not going to develop any level of mastery with this approach. 

• "They found that performance-approach goals were positively related to grades on an exam" (McGregor, 1999).

• This does result in less long-term retention of the material.

What can teachers do?

With students who take the performance approach path, they want to do the best and perform well, they don't actually reach mastery. 

• Have students make specific goals to their grade. 

• Step by step activities, that don't allow for students to move on without full mastery. 

• Student teaching, at the end of the unit having students teach other students on materail ensures they master the information.