Acquiring Knowledge and Learning from Failure : Theory, Measurement, and Validation of Two Learning Goals

We report the development and validation of a measure that distinguished knowledge goals focused on acquiring knowledge and information from learning from failure goals focused on using failure as an opportunity to learn. In Study 1, the scale demonstrated a robust factor structure and adequate internal consistencies, and the two learning goals differently correlated with measures of ego-involved achievement goals. In Study 2, the goal to learn from failure interacted with academically contingent selfworth, reducing self-esteem vulnerability when people invested effort and failed. In Study 3, the goal to learn from failure reduced the effect of academic contingencies of self-worth on self-esteem, especially among the incremental theorists who invested effort prior to failure.