Tanaka, Takehara, and Yamauchi
(2006) conducted a study of 53 undergraduate students
enrolled in a computer class to investigate the
link between achievement goals and task performance,
as mediated by state anxiety arousal. The study analyzed
three achievement goals: mastery (which helps
students focus on the task at hand), performanceapproach
(which orients students to demonstrate ability),
and performance-avoidance (which preoccupies
students with the negative possibilities involved in performance).
In the study, the students created a 5-minute
class presentation using computer software. An achievement
goal questionnaire was administered before the
course, and state anxiety levels were measured using
the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory immediately after the
presentation. Results showed a strong correlation between
performance-avoidance and state anxiety, which
resulted in poor performance. The outcome of this study
indicates that state anxiety can negatively affect task
performance. It is crucial for clinical nursing faculty to
be aware of the potential effects anxiety can have on
As the advances
in health care and
technology continue to
grow, the clinical setting
will become progressively
more stressful.
18 Journal of Nursing Education
Moscaritolo
performance and help students manage the demands of
appraised stress and anxiety