Though children go to school to learn, the lesson they often take home is that they are not very smart. As these students progress through school, their self-confidence and the satisfaction they gain from school work appear to decline. This paradox has vexed many teachers and parents. Why is the cumulative effect of schooling so negative for some students? Researchers who are interested in motivation and learning have examined how goals for learning (achievement goals) influence not only behaviour but thinking process and learning outcomes.