Argues against the use of rewards for students. Discusses their origin in Skinner's behaviorism and their application in behavior modification in the classroom. Describes the problems with using rewards, as noted by Alfie Kohn and others, including the erosion of intrinsic motivation and the distortion of the focus of learning. Presents…

Examines the relationship between learning styles and writing anxiety with female (n=72) and male (n=18) graduate students. Findings reveal that students with the highest levels of writing anxiety tended to be those who prefer to learn in warm environments, lacked self-motivation, liked structure, were peer-oriented learners, were…

Clarifies the concepts of personal and situational interest and their relation to motivation. Presents evidence for substantial relations between interest and text learning. Finds these relations appear to be stronger for deep-level learning than surface-level learning and seem to be largely independent of prior knowledge and cognitive ability.…

Twenty-four musically precocious boys (ages 10 to 14) were asked questions regarding the crystallizing experience, which is defined as a dramatic event in a person's life that makes inherent giftedness manifest. Results indicated all participants had had a crystallizing experience and that it had improved their self-concept. (CR)

This article discusses the importance of recognizing and nurturing intrinsic motivation in students and describes an introductory teacher education course that alerted 48 teacher interns to the characteristics of intrinsically motivated students and to the exceptional qualities of non-conforming students who lack the benefit of being teacher…

About half of regular secondary students make no consistent effort to learn. Intrinsic appeals are applicable to any lesson in any subject at any level. These include novelty, anticipation, security, challenge, completion (of logically connected project segments), application of learned skills, feedback, identification (via possession, belonging,…

Presents seven points related to the following research finding: teacher-librarians are motivated to pursue continuing professional education by a desire to gain new knowledge and skills, particularly through meeting and consultation with colleagues. (AEF)

States that puzzles are an important tool in helping children engage in the problem-solving process. Claims that children are interested in puzzles because they can be active as observers, problem solvers, and learners, with little or no assistance from adults and others. Defines nine characteristics of good puzzle-making situations. (MOK)

Describes a one-day workshop developed at the University of Sydney (Australia) to facilitate social and study-related peer networks. Qualitative and quantitative analyses found that the workshops enhanced study, self-motivation, and general enjoyment of university life and were helpful in easing the transition of undergraduate students.…

Three investigations assessed how concurrent emphases on the intrinsic value of learning and the importance of grades affect college student and instructor views of themselves and of one another. Results suggest that students and instructors have compatible learning and grade orientation ideals, but that current grading practices adversely affect…

Discusses a theoretical model that can be used to deepen understanding of the nature and process of self-learning, and to facilitate students in becoming highly motivated and effective self-learners with the support of a networked human and information technology (IT) environment. Explores how the theory's implications can contribute to…

Examined whether autonomy-support would have a positive effect on self-motivation and well-being. U.S. and Russian high school students completed measures of perceived parental and teacher autonomy-support, academic motivation, and well-being. Russian students perceived parents and teachers as more controlling than did U.S. students. In both…

Evaluated predictors of therapy attendance in a sample of substance abusing youth in two southwestern runaway shelters. Runaway youth and their families were engaged into a 15-session ecologically-based family therapy (EBFT) intervention. Fewer days between pretreatment assessment and first therapy session predicted more sessions attended. No…

Two studies examined whether social norms and children's concern for self-presentation affect their intergroup attitudes. Study 1 examined racial intergroup attitudes and normative beliefs among children aged 6 to 16 years (n=155). Accountability (i.e., public self-focus) was experimentally manipulated, and intergroup attitudes were assessed using…

In this paper we draw on the high-profile, project-based, self-managed career of New Zealand film-maker Peter Jackson, which reflects an accumulation of knowledge creating an example of a new style of career, transforming the industry environment around him. We consider his career capital through three key "ways of knowing" that comprise…