Autonomous goals enhance (as compared to controlled goals):
- deep-level processing
- test-performance
- persistence

Academic effects of goal motivation (controlled or autonomous)

Tend to be paired with intrinsic goals. It when the reason for setting/working towards a goal was derived internally, that is you set them yourself (e.g working a summer job because you know you could use the money for college)

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

It is the reason why an individual sets a goal. Whether the goal is (Deci & Ryan, 2000):
- autonomous

or
- controlled

Goal motive 

Vansteenkiste, M., Lens, W., & Deci, E. L. (2006). Intrinsic versus extrinsic goal contents in self-determination theory: Another look at the quality of academic motivation. Educational psychologist, 41(1), 19-31.

Intrinsic versus extrinsic goal contents in self-determination theory: Another look at the quality of academic motivation

Autonomous motivations for goals

Tend to be paired with extrinsic goals. It is when the reason for setting/working towards a goal was derived externally, that is someone else set them for you (e.g working a summer job because your parents told you to)

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