The 2x2 Framework of Goal Orientation and Its Effects on Basic and Strategic Learning Outcomes

This study aims to advance our knowledge of goal orientation by developing a comprehensive theory on the impact of goal orientation on individual learning. Building on the 2×2 framework of goal orientation, we theorize how each type of goal orientation is associated with basic and strategic learning outcomes through the adoption of different learning strategies and how a task characteristic (i.e., task complexity) shapes the effects. The results of a simulation-based laboratory experiment with 400 participants provide considerable support for our theory. Overall, this study extends the literature on goal orientation and learning by suggesting multiple pathways of the effects of goal orientation on learning outcomes as well as their boundary condition.