An Explanatory Model of the Relations Between Cognitive and Motivational Variables and Academic Goals

The purpose of this investigation was to design a model that would explain the relations among certain cognitive and motivational variables as well as the academic goals pursued by university students. The study was performed using a sample of 460 participants (184 women and 276 men) from the Faculty of Economic Sciences of the Universidad Nacional del Nordeste [National Northeastern University], Argentina. A descriptive-explanatory, cross-sectional and meditational design was used, which was accompanied by the administration of an Academic Goals Questionnaire and various assessment questions to collect data about the variables analysed. A structural equation analysis of the results revealed that both the independent variables (cognitive) and the mediating variables (motivational) that comprise the proposed model are useful to predict and improve the students' learning goals, social reinforcement goals, and achievement (dependent variables).