Abstract: On the basis of a wide investigation on causal attributions and affective reactions to exam performance of junior middle-school students, this article proposed a model on junior middle-school students'causal attribution for exam performance in terms of Weiner's attribution theory of motivation and emotion. This hypothesized model was tested on the use of a statistic mothod of covariance structure modeling. Athough this initial model was rejected on the basis of a chi-square goodness-of-fit test, a specification search yielded a final model that fit the data adequately and partly supported Weiner's theory. According to this model, effort attribution-locus dimension for junior middleschool students had a positive effect on self-confidence, expectation and achievement motivation.

Key words: causal attribution, emotion, model, structural equation