Secondary Students' Mathematics Education Goal Orientations

The aims of this study were to explore the factorial structure of the goals items from a student survey used as part of the Australian Reframing Mathematical Futures II (RMFII) project, and to examine whether statistically significant differences were evident between the derived factors and the variables Year Level and State. Three factors were derived using an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA). The three factors were consistent with prior studies based on Goal Achievement Theory: Performance Approach Goal Orientation (F1), Mastery Goal Orientation (F2), and Performance Avoidance Goal Orientation (F3). Statistically significant differences were also found between Year Level and one of the factors (F2). The findings have highlighted potential avenues for further research with respect to students' goal orientations across different Year Levels