Explores the impact of unannounced quizzes on students' performance on examinations by comparing course segments with quizzes to segments without quizzes. Finds that test scores following quizzes averaged half a letter grade higher than scores from segments without quizzes; C students demonstrated a grade gain of 84% of a letter grade. (CMK)

Examines university student motivation and goals related to preferences for course requirements and evaluation methods in introductory psychology courses. Reports that student expectations of preferences were sometimes contradictory, were different across subgroups (goal, age, and gender), and did not match faculty goals. Includes references. (CMK)

Describes a system that involves randomly administered quizzes and offers suggestions for its implementation in classes of any size. Presents data in support of the effectiveness of this technique stating that students completed their assigned reading at impressive rates when motivated by randomly administered quizzes. (CMK)

This study addressed the impact of a semester-long course called "Learning to Learn," an undergraduate psychology course designed to teach college students to be self-regulated learners. Results of pretesting and posttesting of 78 students with the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (Pintrich, Smith, Garcia, & McKeachie,…

Study indicates that instructors classified as "Facilitator-Person" are effective in terms of student motivation. Concludes that the student-centered approach gives students an opportunity to express their own ideas. The effect of the teacher as model is enhanced because he/she is seen as a person rather than as an impersonal occupant of an…

Described is a course in which college senior psychology majors provide counseling for freshmen majors. The course was positively evaluated by freshmen for encouraging motivation and involvement and by seniors for allowing them to serve as paraprofessional psychologists. (Author/DB)

Examines the use of an incentive program for motivating students. Offers examination bonus points to students as an incentive to finish their required participation in department-wide research. Finds that the incentive program benefited teachers, students, and researchers. (CMK)

Examines whether introductory educational psychology undergraduate students (n=83) read assigned articles if they knew in advance about a quiz or whether they read the articles because they were beneficial to their profession or to class discussion. Finds that students read articles more thoroughly if they knew there would be a quiz. (CMK)

Examines whether the use of progressive writing for a psychology paper assignment affects students' writing and motivation when used to discuss course material illustrated in popular movies. Reveals that the students felt their writing improved and 44% of the students earned 90% of the overall points; student motivation was lower than expected.…

Student ratings of college teaching from peer ratings of 20 personality traits showed students respond best to a teacher who is friendly, fair, and flexible, if he has definite goals and can take the initiative in class. (Author/JR)

Describes a variation of the case study method where adolescent psychology students composed hypothetical cases, proposed solutions to problems, and surveyed other groups regarding case dilemmas and adolescent issues. (Author/JDH)

Describes a course about the Holocaust that is taught through the psychology department. Explains that the team-taught course, "The Holocaust, Social Prejudice, and Morality," is also relevant to public health. States that the topics include but are not limited to stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination, and the language of domination…

Discusses development and use of an instrument for assessing introductory psychology students' perceptions of success in the course. Reports that perceptions were ranked and analyzed for motivational orientation. Reveals the discovery of primarily intrinsic orientation for highest ranked perceptions and extrinsic orientation for lowest rated ones.…

Described is an introductory social psychology course which incorporates motivation arousing elements. Findings indicate that the motivation oriented course was perceived by students as equal or superior to large introductory information oriented courses. (Author/DB)

Reports findings of a class exercise in which students are asked to discuss their perceptions of college classes likely to result in high and low classroom motivation. Identifies eight characteristics that encourage motivation: (1) enthusiasm, (2) relevance, (3) organization, (4) appropriate difficulty level, (5) active involvement, (6) variety,…