Presenting the students’ academic achievement causal model based on goal orientation

Abstract

Introduction: Several factors play a role in academic achievement,individual’s excellence and capability to do actions and tasks thatthe learner is in charge of in learning areas. The main goal of thisstudy was to present academic achievement causal model basedon the dimensions of goal orientation and learning approachesamong the students of Medical Science and Dentistry courses inGuilan University of Medical Sciences in 2013.Methods: This study is based on a cross-sectional model. Theparticipants included 175 first and second year students of theMedical and Dentistry schools in Guilan University of MedicalSciences selected by random cluster sampling [121 persons(69%) Medical Basic Science students and 54 (30.9%) Dentistrystudents]. The measurement tool included the Goal OrientationScale of Bouffard and Study Process Questionnaire of Biggs andthe students’ Grade Point Average. The study data were analyzedusing Pearson correlation coefficient and structural equationsmodeling. SPSS 14 and Amos were used to analyze the data.Results: The results indicated a significant relationship betweengoal orientation and learning strategies (P<0.05). In addition,the results revealed that a significant relationship exists betweenlearning strategies [Deep Learning (r=0.37, P<0.05), SurfaceLearning (r=-0.21, P<0.05)], and academic achievement. Thesuggested model of research is fitted to the data of the research.Conclusion: Results showed that the students’ academicachievement model fits with experimental data, so it can be used inlearning principles which lead to students’ achievement in learning.Keywords: Goal, Orientation, Learning, Strategies, Academic achievement