The motive to avoid failure and test anxiety responses: Empirical support for integration of two research traditions

Abstract

Prior research and theoretical considerations suggested that motive to avoid failure would serve as a basic and general factor of test anxiety. This suggestion led to the expectation that motive to avoid failure should account for a considerable amount of variation and covariation among the four factors of test anxiety responses suggested by Sarason (1984). A covariance structural modeling approach applied to a sample of 260 college students provided support for the expectation. Furthermore, the four test anxiety response factors correlated with motive to avoid failure to the extent they measured evaluative achievement themes. The findings were considered promising support for integrating the research traditions of achievement motivation and test anxiety.