ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT.Thestudyidentifiesanddescribesthe psychologicalparametersofmiddleschoolstudents' socialandworkavoidancegoals.Datawerecollected from86studentsduring114interviewsand24structuredobservationperiods.Inductivecontentanalysesof theinterviewandobservationdataidentified8distinct motivationalgoals(purposes)thatthesampleofmiddle schoolstudentsespousedfortheiracademicachievement.However,thisanalysisfocusesonsocialandwork avoidancegoalsthathavenotbeenwidelyexploredin theliteraturetodate.Theanalysisalsoidentifiesthe structureofthesegoalsintermsoftheircomponentacademicbehaviors,affect,andcognitions.Thestudyis significantbecauseitextendsanddeepensdescriptions ofthedistinctsocialandworkavoidancegoalsthatstudentsmayespouseandidentifieskeypsychological componentsofthesegoals.
