A causal model of constructivist class structure, goal orientation and academic performance

The aim of this study was to present a causal model of constructivist class structure (consisting ­field-orientation,relativism, participation and qualitative evaluation), goal orientation and academic performance. Subjects of this study were 218 BA and MA students from the faculties of humanities, basic sciences and engineering at Shiraz University. Subjects were selected by multi-stage cluster sampling method. Research instruments were constructivism Inventory (Mansuri, 1389) and Goal-orientation Questionnaire (Elliot and McGregor, 2001). Also, the standard score of academic achievement mean was the index of the academic performance. Results of Path analysis based on Baron and Keni (1986) stages showed that: The components of ­field-orientation,participation and relativism predict student’s academic performance, positively. Field-orientation and relativism were found to be positive predictors of the approach goal orientations and the negative predictors of the avoidance goal orientations. Qualitative evaluation was also a positive predictor of the avoidance goal orientations. Moreover, approach goal orientations predicted academic performance positively and had the mediating role in the relationships among the components of­ field-orientation andrelativism and the academic performance of university students.