Effect of positive behavioral intervention on achievement goal orientation in hard-of-hearing students

Abstract

Goal orientation and Positive Behavioral Intervention and Support (PBIS) are crucial in daily life. This study aimed to explore the effect of PBIS on achievement goal orientation in hard-of-hearing students. The present research was a semi-randomized controlled trial design. Thirty hard-of-hearing students were randomly selected from Deaf Schools in Isfahan, Iran. Participants were randomly assigned to control (n = 15) or intervention (n = 15) groups. The intervention group participated in the 10-session PBIS, while the control group did not participate in the intervention. Both groups filled out the Achievement Goal Questionnaire–Revised (AGQ–R) before and after the intervention. The results of Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA) indicated that PBIS positively and significantly influenced achievement goal orientation subscales such as mastery-approach, performance-approach, and performance-avoidance in hard-of-hearing students (p <.001). This research suggests that PBIS can promote achievement goal orientation in hard-of-hearing students. Therefore, this intervention was feasible and acceptable to these students. © 2025 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.