This book presents the latest developments in the major theories of student motivation as well as up-to-date research on the contextual and cultural variables that influence learning motivation in educational settings. An international roster of experts provides ample illustration of the complexities that are revealed when the study of cultural and contextual interactions is combined with motivational and cognitive variables.

1 The Culture and Context of Learning.- The Role of Learning Context and Motivation in the Education of Exceptional Students.- Psychological Mediators of Learning Vulnerabilities.- Organization and Overview of the Book.- Attribution Theory, Beliefs and Values: Current Status and Research.- Goal Orientation Theory: New Ideas and Recent Research.- Context of Learning and Classroom Instruction.- Conclusion.- References.- I. Attribution Theory/Beliefs and Values: Current Status and Research.- 2 Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Theories of Motivation from an Attribution Perspective.- 3 Inferences about Responsibility and Values: Implication for Academic Motivation.- 4 The Social Functions of Attributional Face Saving Tactics.- 5 Declining Optimism in Ethnic Minority Students: The Role of Attributions and Self-Esteem.- 6 Chinese Students' and Teachers' Inferences of Effort and Ability.- II. Goal Orientation Theory: New Ideas and Recent Research.- 7 Cultural Diversity, Student Motivation and Achievement.- 8 Goal Orientation and Self-Regulated Learning in the College Classroom: A Cross-Cultural Comparison.- 9 Contextual Influences on Motivation and Performance: An Examination of Achievement Goal Structures.- 10 Cross-Cultural Response to Failure: Considering Outcome Attributions with Different Goals.- 11 The Influence of Culture and Context on Students' Motivational Orientation and Performance.- 12 Goals and Motivation of Chinese Students - Testing the Adaptive Learning Model.- III. Context of Learning and Classroom Instruction.- 13 Classroom Context Effects on Young Children's Motivation.- 14 Teaching Across Cultures.- 15 Significance of Cultural and Motivation Variables on Students' Attitudes Towards Group Work.- 16 Research on Classroom Instruction and Its Effects- Shortcomings, Dead Ends, and Future Perspectives.- Author Index.