Research skills are important for university graduates, but little is known about undergraduates' motivation for research. In this study, self-efficacy beliefs and intrinsic motivation for several... Show moreResearch skills are important for university graduates, but little is known about undergraduates' motivation for research. In this study, self-efficacy beliefs and intrinsic motivation for several research activities were measured three times during an undergraduate research project (N = 147 students). In order to promote self-efficacy for writing and collaboration, a collaboration script was developed and tested on half of the students. Twelve students were interviewed three times to gather in-depth information about motivational and self-efficacy beliefs. All measures except intrinsic motivation for research increased significantly during the project. Interview results suggest that enactive mastery and positive social interdependence promoted self-efficacy. Feelings of relatedness seemed to promote intrinsic motivation for writing. Lack of autonomy and low perceived relevance may explain why motivation for research remained stable. The script had no impact on self-efficacy beliefs. Relatedness, autonomy and positive social interdependence may boost motivation for research, but more evidence is needed. Show less
Blankenstein, F.M. van; Saab, N.; Rijst, R.M. van der; Danel, M.S.; Bakker-Van den Berg, A.S.; Broek, P.W. van den 2018
Research skills are important for university graduates, but little is known about undergraduates’ motivation for research. In this study, self-efficacy beliefs and intrinsic motivation for several... Show moreResearch skills are important for university graduates, but little is known about undergraduates’ motivation for research. In this study, self-efficacy beliefs and intrinsic motivation for several research activities were measured three times during an undergraduate research project (N = 147 students). In order to promote self-efficacy for writing and collaboration, a collaboration script was developed and tested on half of the students. Twelve students were interviewed three times to gather in-depth information about motivational and self-efficacy beliefs. All measures except intrinsic motivation for research increased significantly during the project. Interview results suggest that enactive mastery and positive social interdependence promoted self-efficacy. Feelings of relatedness seemed to promote intrinsic motivation for writing. Lack of autonomy and low perceived relevance may explain why motivation for research remained stable. The script had no impact on self-efficacy beliefs. Relatedness, autonomy and positive social interdependence may boost motivation for research, but more evidence is needed. Show less
This thesis attempted to contribute to the quest of practitioners and researchers to find guidelines on how to establish a healthy motivational orientation in the classroom. This is not an easy... Show moreThis thesis attempted to contribute to the quest of practitioners and researchers to find guidelines on how to establish a healthy motivational orientation in the classroom. This is not an easy objective. There are many theories and concepts regarding motivation. We provided an overview in Chapter 2 of 36 motivation theories to gain more insight into what motivation is and how it works in the classroom. In Chapter 3 we highlighted motivation constructs derived from different motivation perspectives that can predict classroom performance together. Further, we presented the effects of a motivational intervention on intrinsic motivation, persistence, self-regulatory skills and performance (Chapter 4); we distinguished between the effects for boys and girls (Chapter 5); and investigated the applicability of self-determination theory across situations (Chapter 6). This chapter will start by presenting and elaborating on our results. We use the metaphor of the motivation cake that was introduced in the first chapter of this thesis to illustrate our conclusions. Subsequently, we discuss study limitations and present our suggestions for future research as well as the theoretical and practical implications of the present thesis. Show less
