Chapter 1: Introduction to the Study of Motivation

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Chapter 1Introduction to the Study of
Motivation

• Notes from class textbook
• Pintrich, P.R., Schunk, D.H. (1996).
  Motivation in Education Theory, Research,
  Applications. Englewood Cliff, NJ Prentice
  Hall.

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Motivation Defined

• Derived from Latin verb movere (to move)
• Common-sense Something that gets us going,
  keeps us moving, helps us get jobs done.
• Formal Definition the process whereby
  goal-directed activity is instigated and
  sustained.

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Process

• Process rather than product
• Do not observe directly but rather infer it from
  behaviors
• choice of tasks
• effort
• persistence
• verbalizations

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Goals

• Provide impetus for direction to action
• Cognitive views emphasize importance of goals
• Give individual something to attain or avoid

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Requires Activity

• Physical -- effort, persistence, other overt
  actions
• Mental -- planning, rehearsing, organizing,
  monitoring, making decisions, solving problems,
  assessing progress
• Geared toward goal attainment

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Instigated and Sustained

• Starting toward a goal is important
• Involves making a commitment to change
• Taking a first step

• Motivational processes critically important to
  sustaining action
• Many goals are long-term
• How one responds to difficulties, problems,
  failures, and setbacks encountered

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What is a Theory?

• A scientifically acceptable set of principles
  advanced to explain a phenomenon
• Provides a framework for interpreting
  environmental observation
• Helps link research and education
• Enables us to organize research findings around a
  common reference point

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What are Hypotheses?

• Are assumptions that can be empirically tested
• State what conditions ought to accompany or
  follow other variables

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Motivation Research Paradigms

• Type
• Correlational
• Experimental

• Qualities
• Examines relations that exist between variables
• One or more variables are altered their
  effects on other variables are assessed

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Motivation Research Paradigms

• Type
• Qualitative
• Laboratory
• Field

• Qualities
• Concerned with intensive description
  interpretation of meanings
• Project conducted setting
• Project conducted where participants typically go
  to school, learn, work, and so on

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Indices of Motivation

• Choice of tasks -- selecting task under
  free-choice
• Effort -- high effort, even on difficult material
• Persistence -- working for longer time, even when
  obstacles encountered
• Achievement -- choice, effort, persistence
  raise task achievement (indirect)

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Assessing Motivation

• Direct observations
• Ratings by others
• Self-reports
• Questionnaires
• Interviews
• Stimulated recalls
• Think-alouds
• Dialogues

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We dont need no education!
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