Assessing school performance and motivation

Abstract

We verify the theoretical hypothesis that individual reference norm helps the development of positive achievement motivation and lowers the performance fear of pupils. The research was carried out with pupils aged 9 to 12 years. The article presents the results of the research in using reference norms with 61 teachers in connection with achievement motivation of their 1144 pupils. The research also mapped the real school situations for the teachers involved, based partly on observation during lessons and detailed records from the lessons, and verified the possibilities and limitations of using the individual reference norm for school assessment. Both parts of the research showed that using the individual reference norm does not necessarily lead to the increase of achievement motivation of pupils or lowering the pupils' fear at school.