Methodenlehre: Alptraum oder Herausforderung für Psychologiestudierende? Eine Typologie auf Basis des sozialkognitiven Motivationsmodells von Dweck

The study describes (1) systematically the motivational situation of psychology students concerning the subject research-methods using the social-cognitive motivation model (Dweck &Leggett, 1988) and proves (2) the central assumptions of the model. In a cross section design data were collected from 465 psychology students of the University of Vienna. On average, results show low subject knowledge and suboptimal values in interest and helplessness of the students. All observed gender differences (in knowledge, helplessness and implicit personality theory) are in favour of male students. The cluster analysis showed three motivational types, which in comparison support the central assumptions of the model of Dweck and Leggett (1988): the "stable negative oriented students" (type 3) show poorer values in subject knowledge and all other variables than the "competence-" (type 1) and the "achievement oriented students" (type 2). Recommendations for interventions and for an extension of the model were made.