What Drives Us? Exploring How Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation Affect Student Learning

Motivation is very important in how students learn. It has a big effect on how well they perform in school and how involved they are in their studies. There are two main types of motivation: intrinsic and extrinsic.

Intrinsic Motivation

• What It Is: Intrinsic motivation is when students learn because they enjoy it. They find satisfaction in the learning itself.
• Interesting Fact: Studies show that students who are intrinsically motivated can improve their grades by about 20% compared to those who are motivated by other rewards.
• Benefits:
  • More creativity
  • Greater willingness to keep trying
  • Better focus and understanding

Extrinsic Motivation

• What It Is: Extrinsic motivation is when students do work to get rewards or to avoid bad outcomes.
• Interesting Fact: While these rewards can help students perform better in the short run, relying too much on them can drop intrinsic motivation by around 30% when the rewards stop.
• Common Rewards:
  • Grades
  • Compliments
  • Scholarships

How They Compare in Learning

• Engagement: A study from Deci, Koestner, and Ryan in 1999 found that students who are intrinsically motivated are more engaged and use deeper learning methods. In contrast, extrinsic motivation often leads to surface-level learning, which can hurt long-term understanding.
• Performance: According to research by Cameron and Pierce in 1994, students who are driven by intrinsic motivation are 50% more likely to continue learning than those who are extrinsically motivated.

Conclusion

It's important for teachers to understand how intrinsic and extrinsic motivation work together. Using methods that support intrinsic motivation—like giving meaningful tasks and creating a friendly learning environment—can lead to better learning and growth. By blending both types of motivation, teachers can help students learn in a more balanced way.