What is motivation and is it a state or a trait?
Motivation arouses directs and maintains behaviour and can be both a state (situational) or a trait (stable tendency)
How does Bandura explain motivation and learning in Social Cognitive Theory?
Learning occurs in a social context through observation of others and involves human agency and self-regulation
What is self-efficacy in Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory?
Belief in one’s ability to succeed at a specific task and it is context-specific
What are the sources of self-efficacy according to Bandura?
Mastery experiences, vicarious experience, social persuasion and arousal
Why is self-efficacy important for motivation and achievement?
High self-efficacy leads to greater effort, persistence, resilience and higher achievement
How does teacher efficacy affect student learning?
High teacher efficacy is associated with higher student achievement through optimism persistence and higher expectations
What are the main types of motivation in Deci and Ryan’s Self-Determination Theory?
- Amotivation: Complete lack of intent to act (vs intrinsic/extrinsic motivation)
- Intrinsic: Activities that are their own reward
Associated with seeking out and conquering challenges in pursuit of personal interests and the exercise of capabilities - Extrinsic motivation
Motivation created by external factors like rewards and punishments
Not interested in the activity for its own sake, but instead for possible gains
How do behaviourist theories explain motivation?
Motivation is driven by external reinforcement using rewards and punishments (Skinner)
How do humanistic theories explain motivation?
Motivation is driven by intrinsic needs personal growth choice and self-determination
How does Maslow explain motivation?
Behaviour is motivated by a hierarchy of needs progressing from basic to growth needs (Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs)
What is a key criticism of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs?
Needs do not always follow a fixed order and multiple needs can motivate at once
What are the three basic psychological needs in Self-Determination Theory: Deci and Ryan 2002?
Competence, autonomy and relatedness
How do self-determination supportive classrooms affect motivation?
They increase intrinsic motivation, engagement, creativity and academic achievement
How do cognitive theories explain motivation?
People are motivated to understand make sense of the world and pursue meaningful goals
How does goal-setting improve motivation and performance?
Goals focus attention, increase effort, persistence and strategy use, especially when specific, moderate and proximal
What are the main goal orientations and their focus?
Mastery focuses on learning, performance focuses on ability, work-avoidance avoids effort, social focuses on belonging
What is Expectancy × Value theory?
Motivation depends on expectancy of success multiplied by value of the goal minus cost
How do beliefs about ability influence motivation according to Dweck?
Entity beliefs view ability as fixed while incremental beliefs view ability as changeable, affecting goal choice
What is the key educational implication of Dweck’s mindset theory?
Praise effort and persistence rather than ability or attainment
How do sociocultural theories explain motivation?
Motivation is linked to identity, belonging and participation within a social and cultural community
How can intrinsic motivation and self-efficacy be supported in classrooms?
By promoting mastery experiences, competence-focused feedback, autonomy and self-comparison
