Examines between-domain relations of self efficacy, task value, and achievement goal orientations among 424 Korean middle and high school students. Results provide strong support for the subject specificity of self efficacy, task value, and various achievement goals. Both middle and high school students expressed motivational orientations that…

In this paper, we review findings from Project Competence on the nature of personality development from middle childhood through the early adult years and place these findings in the context of current research on temperament and personality traits. In a series of studies using data drawn from the Project Competence longitudinal project, we have…

This paper is a review of human resource development, training, and instructional communication literature to determine any connections between trainers presentation and trainee motivation. The literature review explores constructs of instructional communication that impact motivation, and then connects motivation to trainees' transfer of…

Adult educators are becoming increasingly aware of the fact that adult learners, not institutions, initiate the process of adult education and that they determine the ends to be accomplished by their participation. Researchers have shown that the decision to participate in adult education comes about as a result of a variety of social and…

Goodenough's (1976) findings on field dependence/independence are extended here by focusing on the information processing stages of attention, encoding in short term and working memories, and storage and retrieval processes of long term memory. The reviewed research indicates that field independent and dependent individuals differ in the ability…

By reviewing the recent studies on motivation in language learning, this paper attempts to recognize what has been done in the area of research on foreign and second language (L2) learning motivation in the late 1980s and 1990s and to discuss some problems and issues found in those studies in relation to the construct "motivation" in language…

Discusses and reviews learner control research and presents three theoretical bases to help provide a framework for past research as well as to assist in designing future studies: (1) motivation, (2) attribution, and (3) information processing. Three types of learner control are discussed in relation to the theoretical perspectives: pacing,…

Students' needs and research on learning should inform teaching practices. Makes suggestions for improving instruction such as using students as ombudspersons to provide feedback on class concerns, focusing on process skills, and incorporating problem-based learning into the curriculum. Also includes examples of successful programs and summaries…

Discusses the challenges of learning American Sign Language (ASL) for hearing individuals, including social-dominance patterns and attitude, grammatical differences, cultural differences, and motivation. Posits that learning ASL should be approached with respect and with the knowledge that mastery only occurs over a substantial period of time. (CR)

Examines the relationships between student characteristics, student use of computers and other information technologies (C&IT), the amount of effort devoted to college activities, and self-reported gains in a range of college outcomes. Results reveal that students appear to benefit more from C&IT when used frequently and in a variety of…

To assist adult educators in finding meaningful ways to measure the effectiveness of instruction, this monograph provides selected illustrations of specific methods used by adult education instructors to verify student learning. Obtained from teachers in the field, the examples are from programs in (1) dental assisting, (2) instrument pilot ground…

A review of current research regarding foreign language learning motivation considers development of the prevailing theory, integrative versus instrumental premises, neglected points of significance in previous research, inadequacies of the general model, and developmental aspects of learning motives. While such research has reached a…

The article reviews theory based research on the motivational characteristics of mildly retarded adolescents and young adults and highlights the need for more research on the motivational characteristics in learning among this group of individuals. (DLS)

Among theories of student departure from college, interactional theories--that attrition is a result of interaction between attributes of students and the institutional environment--are currently popular. Of particular interest to continuing educators is the direct effect of absenteeism and academic advising on dropout. (SK)

The article raises concerns about educational approaches which rely heavily on extrinsic reinforcers and offers instructional guidelines to promote intrinsic motivation in children with learning problems. Stressed is the importance of mediational dynamics between teacher and student in the learning process. (DB)