The Effectiveness of Goal-Setting Strategies Training in Improving Academic Achievement and Goal Setting Accuracy of Middle School Students

In this research, the effectiveness of goal-setting strategies training designed based on goal-setting theory in the grade goals and academic achievement of middle school students has been investigated. To achieve this aim, 79 seventh-grade male students were selected by random cluster sampling and assigned to experimental and control groups. The Goal-setting strategies training package was developed on the basis of goal-setting theory by researchers and presented during 7 sessions to students and the tasks were done by them. Final grades of the first and second semesters were used for evaluating academic achievement and the grade goals set by students for the first and second semesters were used for assessing grade goal setting. The findings showed that the academic achievement of the experimental group increased in comparison with the control group. Whereas the grade goals of the students of the experimental group did not change, their grade goal errors decreased significantly which indicate the improvement and increased accuracy of educational goal-setting of students. Goal-setting strategies training can enhance academic performance and the quality of goal-setting.