As part of a national study, measures of intrinsic motivation, perceived competence, and academic achievement were administered to 949 academically gifted second and third graders at the beginning and end of the school year. Structural equation modeling indicated that intrinsic motivation influenced perceived competence and that perceived…

Both gifted (n=69) and regular (n=66) French Canadian elementary students were compared for school intrinsic motivation and perceived competence. Results indicated that gifted students perceived themselves as being more competent and intrinsically motivated toward school activities than did regular students. No gender effects were obtained.…

This chapter reframes, from a developmental, self-worth perspective, the longstanding debate over the presumed negative impact of extrinsic rewards on subject-matter appreciation and creative expression. The chapter argues that the debate over the potentially adverse effects of extrinsic payoffs is largely misplaced because of a narrow, almost…