Measures of Achievement Motivation

Abstract

Five techniques of assessing achievement motivation were compared using fifth grade children. The methods examined were the McClelland-Atkinson measure and its associated Resultant Achievement Motivation technique, the shorter forms of Veroff and Campbell and the self-report scale by Weiner, the Children's Achievement Scale. A high degree of similarity was found between measures obtained from the projective methods but the self-report scale appeared to be unrelated. It is suggested that the Veroff approach is an attractive method in terms of its correlation with the well-established McClelland-Atkinson measure, the consistent scorer ratings it produced, and the speed and convenience of its use.