Conscientiousness and Academic Performance: The Role of Effortful Strategies and Achievement Goals

No, you have not misunderstood anything. The statements may seem contradictory, but they are not. The first sentence suggests that people with high levels of Conscientiousness are likely to perform well academically. However, the second sentence clarifies that this effect is not entirely dependent on achievement goals. In other words, Conscientiousness can directly impact academic performance, but it can also indirectly affect it through effortful strategies or approach goals. Therefore, the statistical effect of Conscientiousness is generally independent of achievement goals, but there may be some overlap in how these factors contribute to academic success.