The role of achievement goals orientation in math performance: Mediating student's self-regulation

The main aim of this study was to investigate the role of achievement goals orientation in student's math performance and the mediating role of self-regulation. The sample included 358 students of randomly selected through cluster sampling. This research is a correlational study. Predicting variables were achievement goals orientation as well as self-regulation, and math performance was the criterion variable. The instruments were Middleton and Midgley achievement goals orientation as well as Pintrich and de Groot self-regulation questionnaires. Math scores were used to reflect the math performance of the students. The results indicated a significant correlation between the variables of self-regulation, mastery orientation, and achieving goals orientation with math performance, but there was not a significant correlation between achieving goals orientation with self-regulation and math performance. The results also showed a direct effect of self-regulation and the direct and indirect effects of performance-approach and mastery goals orientations on math performance as positive and significant. Therefore, self-regulation plays a significant and facilitative, mediating role between motivational orientations and math performance.