Introduction. This paper reports a preliminary investigation of the individual and situational

Two preliminary studies are presented investigating the self-beliefs that may ffect goal achievement in a student population. In Study 1, goal achievement on an abstract task, where goals are externally set by others, is considered in relationto students’ levels of optimism. In Study 2, goal achievement on academic performance, where goals are internally set by ones’ self, is considered in relation to students’ academic confidence. Optimism was related to goal achievement in Study 1 but only when the goal was believed to be difficult to achieve; optimistic studentsachieved higher scores than pessimistic students. In Study 2 confidence was related to goal achievement; students with moderate levels of academic confidence were wellcalibrated in their grade predictions whereas those with high levels of academic confidence were overconfident in their grade predictions. The results are discussed in relation to student motivation.

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