The authors examined how 2 types of goal setting (process vs. outcome), self-evaluation (presence vs. absence), and organizational signals (presence vs. absence) affected student ability to perform a set of procedural skills, namely animating slides created via presentation software. They also examined how these variables influenced a variety of…

This study examined how activity and engagement qualities were related to stress. Experience sampling using e-mail pagers collected simultaneous ratings of stress and qualities of activity for 30 college women during 14 days. Surveys included narrative questions about activity types, feelings, and experience and Likert-type scales rating activity…

This paper examines the nature and evaluation of creative behavior, tracing the origins of creativity research and developing an interdisciplinary framework for such research. The first part of the paper is devoted to identifying the nature of some common misconceptions regarding the nature and evaluation of creative behaviors, and tracing their…

This study examined relationships between students' cooperative learning experiences (including both the frequency and quality of their interactions in small groups) and their attitudes toward school; perceptions of the classroom environment; intrinsic motivation; and various social attitudes, skills, and values. Participants (n=756) were teachers…

A study examined motivation factors related to participants' level of development in outdoor adventure recreation pursuits. A survey was completed by 164 undergraduate recreation majors from separate, but similar, sections of a required 13-day outdoor education practicum. Respondents rated fun and enjoyment as their most important motive for…

This publication provides findings from two related areas of research for people who work outside the classroom in supporting roles (e.g., principals, service providers, policymakers, and change agents): human motivation in general and teacher motivation to change practice. After discussing the creation of conditions which will motivate growth,…

Evaluates the leisure perceptions held by adolescents in institutional settings. Neulinger's (1986) "What Am I Doing?" scale (WAID) is used to measure the differences between adolescents in therapeutic and nontherapeutic settings. Discusses whether the two cohorts differ in regard to their scores when concomitant variables are statistically…

Studies indicate dissuasion does make a difference with heavy drinkers who have not developed severe alcohol dependence. There are practical and methodological problems encountered in comparison of different interventions. Concluded changes sometimes attributed to specific behavioral and psychological interventions may be due to a combination of…

The use of Learner Centered Psychological Principles in instruction and training emphasizes self-motivated, self-directed, and interactive learning. Topics include traditional versus learner-centered instructional approaches, the Learner-Centered Psychological Principles, the challenge of designing learner-centered instruction, and…

Asserts that research indicates that parents have a strong influence on the development of their children's achievement motivation. Reports a study of 180 Bophuthatswana adolescents to determine the effects of living in a boarding school or with family. Finds significantly higher achievement motivation scores for the adolescents living with…

Teacher trainees' responses to open-ended questions about career choice were used to determine their motives for selecting a career in teaching in Brunei Darussalam. The results indicated that extrinsic motives were the main determinants for trainees to choose teaching, and altruistic and intrinsic reasons were less prominent. (SM)

Addresses the issue of master music teachers' motivation. Describes motivation as a learned habit reflecting these characteristics: clarity of purpose, delayed gratification, consistent persistence, continual self-evaluation, open-mindedness, emotional maturity, no fear of failure, and self-discipline. Attributes master music teachers' success to…

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.…

A 1996 study attributed adolescent remedial readers' low comprehension to poor motivation, lack of experience, and egocentricity. Secondary teachers can help by connecting reading assignments to real-world learning experiences, providing self-directed activities, and inviting collaborative learning and varied self-expression. A San Diego program…

Presents Flow Theory as a theoretical model to help those who work with children in physical activity environments better understand how to motivate children to become and remain physically active. Explains why children participate in and drop out of physical activities, what Flow Theory is, how to tap into flow experiences, and implications for…