A literature review on motivation and cognitive style and a survey of participants in management development suggests that participants' motivation may not be conducive to effective outcomes. In-house programs using workplace learning models in organizations with strong and pervasive cultures may constrain opportunities to put learning into…

Constructivist and conceptual change perspectives on learning have given rise to a number of models of constructivist classroom teaching. Motivation has been recognized as an important factor in the construction of knowledge and the process of conceptual change, so one could expect that motivation strategies would be integral components of…

In this article it is argued that peers have the potential to provide contexts for learning that can have a profound impact on the development of students' academic enablers. Describes ways in which peer collaborative contexts can promote academic engagement as well as provide a supportive structure for the development of specific problem-solving…

Discusses some of the major developments, issues, and problems in studying the relationship between attitudes and motivation and second-language acquisition and proficiency. (29 references) (GLR)

Reviews the important literature published since Astin's 1985 work on involvement theory, including his subsequent publications on student involvement in learning, to determine whether student involvement does make a difference to student development and learning. Examines some of the limitations inherent in assessing student development and…

Examines two aspects of continuity, stability of individual differences and means, in a study from the middle elementary through high school years. Two hypotheses were supported: academic intrinsic motivation is a stable construct through these years, and with advancement in age, academic intrinsic motivation becomes increasingly stable. (Contains…

Tests a model of motivation and achievement with data from 50 teachers and 806 Grade 4-6 students in Taiwan. Autonomy as a construct was shown to have ecological validity in Chinese children. The proposed model fit the data well, showing that maternal involvement and autonomy support, as well as teachers' autonomy support, are important for…

Despite the interest that second-language students show for learning a foreign language, many of them do not possess the motivation to conclude successfully their course of foreign language study. In the search of an explanation for this apparent contradiction, the concepts of "interest" and "motivation" must be re-defined. (AP)

This paper provides a critical analysis of New Zealand's Performance Based Research Fund (PBRF). The first section sketches the development and implementation of the PBRF. The second section evaluates the scheme, concentrating on three themes: the relationship between privatization, competition and research performance; the standardization of…

Several questions regarding the frequency and motivation of adult learning are examined in light of findings from several research studies. Focus is on highly intentional learning which is not part of formal course work: a series of time-consuming episodes in which the person's primary intention is to gain certain definite knowledge and skill.…

Suggests, based on a review of research, that most of the work on motivation and attitudes as they relate to second language learning do not withstand critical analysis. It is also suggested that integrated research that does not study isolated factors but attempts to account for as many factors as possible is more valuable within its understood…

In today's educational setting, assessment results weigh heavily in determining what students should know and be able to do. In addition, because assessment scores are often tied to accountability systems that affect both teaching and learning, they influence what is taught in the classroom. The changes in the use of assessments underscore the…

Two views of emotion in the writings of Paulo Freire are discussed. Freire views emotions as critical forces to be curbed if not eliminated. Emotions are also seen as a necessary part of that essential element of education for critical consciousness--dialog. (JN)

Discusses how human evolution affects the achievement of flow experiences, including the role of complexity, or people's need to take on a greater range of challenges and opportunities to increase their skill level. Describes evolutionary obstacles to complexity, such as genetic instructions to conserve energy, and ways to overcome these…

Provides an overview of the current themes and research directions in second language motivation research. Argues that the initial research inspiration and standard-setting empirical work on second language motivation originating from Canada has borne fruit by educating a new generation of international scholars who have created a colorful mixture…