Effect of Verbal Praise on Achievement Goal Orientation, Motivation, and Performance Attribution

The type of praise students receive can shape how they approach learning in music. When students are told they are talented, they are more likely to focus on proving their ability and avoiding mistakes. In contrast, when students are praised for their effort, they are more likely to seek out challenges and persist when tasks become difficult. In this study, students who received effort-based praise overwhelmingly chose more challenging musical tasks, while those praised for talent were more likely to select easier tasks that highlighted their perceived ability.