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An Item Response Theory Examination of Two Popular Goal Orientation Measures

Reykjavik University, lgh{at}ru.is

John J. Donovan

Rider University

B. Tyson Breland

Marriott International, Inc.

The current study used item response theory to provide a detailed examination of the psychometric properties of scores from two goal orientation instruments popular in the work motivation literature: Button, Mathieu, and Zajac (1996) and VandeWalle (1997). In general, the results of these analyses indicated that all scales except Button et al.'s (1996) Learning Goal Orientation (LGO) scale suffered from low levels of measurement precision. The Performance Goal Orientation scales contained a number of items that were of limited informational value. Button et al.'s (1996) LGO scale performed adequately but only for those with low to moderately high standings on the construct. Implications of these results and recommendations for future research on the goal orientation construct are presented.

Key Words: goal orientation • work motivation • item response theory • item-level analysis

This version was published on August 1, 2007

Educational and Psychological Measurement, Vol. 67, No. 4, 719-739 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0013164406299101


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