The introduction reviews a number of findings and problems in the measurement of achievement motivation and raises some questions concerning the possible friction between motivation to achieve and curiosity. Subjects for the two pilot studies es were ninth graders of average (95-113) and high IQ (128 +) from a predominantly upper middle-class…

Investigated undergraduate motivation to learn, attempting to incorporate the role of discipline-specific factors in motivation to learn. Found that student academic performance is better explained by within- than by across-discipline indexes of motivation, probably because some types of motivation lead to success in some disciplines but failure…

In this study I examined how Taiwanese junior high school students' perceptions of autonomy support were related to their motivational characteristics, and the ability of these constructs to explain students' academic engagement. A total of 343 eighth-grade students completed a self-report survey assessing their perceptions of autonomy support…

One of the ultimate goals of policy makers is to enable citizens to take advantage of a globalised world economy. This is leading them to focus on the improvement of education policies, ensuring the quality of service provision, a more equitable distribution of learning opportunities and stronger incentives for greater efficiency in schooling.…

A study of Mexican immigrant mothers of young children in the AVANCE-Dallas early childhood intervention program demonstrates that low-educational parents often exhibit ambitious attitudes about educational achievement for their children. Though they lack an extensive academic background, which places their children at risk for low education,…

Research evidence that well-executed formative assessment raises achievement and enhances motivation and autonomy has influenced policy and practice in schools and universities in the United Kingdom. Formative assessment is also built into the aims and assessment activities of outcome-based qualifications in post-compulsory education. Behind these…

This case study examines the patterns of participation of one US-educated refugee student in a university intensive English program (IEP). Specifically, I illustrate how the focal student used her advanced oral proficiency and prior experience with US educational norms and practices to engage in various interactional behaviours, such as shifting…

Competition may not be a desirable incentive in view of its possible negative side effects. Praise appears simpler and equally effective.

The article is an anecdote showing how motivation can do marvelous things. (MF)

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…

In one section of a graduate course (n=26), the instructor gave enthusiastic verbal praise 27% of the time for homework logs and administered no verbal praise in the other (n=28). The praise group had higher average scores, studied longer per lesson, and had higher motivation. (Contains 51 references.) (SK)

This article considers the profound impact that Paul R. Pintrich had on the field of achievement motivation, specifically achievement goal theory. The article highlights Pintrich's groundbreaking research and theorizing, beginning with his early work integrating research on motivation and cognition and ending with his development of a multiple…

This study investigated the impact of students' conceptions of constructivist learning activities on academic achievement and drop-out. Although constructivism represents an influential view of learning, studies investigating how students conceptualize this perspective have not been conducted before. A structural equation modelling approach was…

This study compared the effects of four experimental treatments on levels of expectancy or aspiration of 80 disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged boys and girls. Levels of expectancy were more discrepant from previous performance in conditions perceived as chance regulated, and in those outcomes actually controlled by chance. More unusual shifts in…

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…