Motivation Theory and Its Relationship to Adult Learning

EDUC 8101-11

LaCarla Holmes

October 3, 2010

What motivates students to achieve success?

Motivation is a powerful force which enables an individual to pursue a wanted goal. This presentation will focus on the tools in which individuals use to attain this goal.

Before participating in this exercise the participant will:

Verbalize characteristics of adult learners

Discuss two barriers to learning

Determine a situation which recently occurred where you were motivated to pursue a goal

Characteristics of Adult Learners:

According to Matthew Knowles, adults are:

Self directedCan formulate life

experiences into their learning experiences

Goal oriented

What factors help motivate individuals to pursue success?

Social RelationshipsCreate relationships with peers in an effort to make new

friends

Compliance with expectations of others

Meet the expectations of what others would like for them to do

Social advancementsCreate a new role as a member of society; one who is

now contributing to and their community as a wholePersonal advancementFulfilling a personal void involving changing job status

or furthering one’s careerStimulation

Relieve boredom or pursue a new interest in a given area

Cognitive InterestTo satisfy one’s own need to achieve a particular goal

Barriers against learning

Lack of motivation to learnLack of supportive

relationship with educatorInability to use technologyCost of education Accessibility of educational

outlet

Historical Views on Motivation

Fred Herzberg’s Motivational Theory

“Motivation is another factor which contributes to an adult learners need to pursue success. According to Herzberg, “an individual is driven by factors which include: achievement, advancement, and recognition.”

Maslow’s Motivational Theory

The basis of Maslow's motivation theory is that human beings are motivated by unsatisfied needs, and that certain lower factors need to be satisfied before higher needs can be satisfied. According to Maslow, there are general types of needs (physiological, survival, safety, love, and esteem) that must be satisfied before a person can act unselfishly. He called these needs "deficiency needs." As long as we are motivated to satisfy these cravings, we are moving towards growth, toward self-actualization. Satisfying needs is healthy, while preventing gratification makes us sick or act evilly.

Macgregor’s Theory X and Y

Theory X- Assumes employees are lazy and resent working. They need to be closely supervised.

Theory Y- Suggests individuals are self motivated and desire the needs to do well.

The Expectancy Theory

Expectancy theory is comprised of three components: Expectancy, Instrumentality, and Valance.

Attribution TheoryWeiner developed a theoretical

framework that has become very influential in social psychology today. Attribution theory assumes that people try to determine why people do what they do, that is, interpret causes to an event or behavior. A three-stage process underlies an attribution:

behavior must be observed/perceived

behavior must be determined to be intentional

behavior attributed to internal or external causes

Similarities of Theorists on Motivation

They require the individual to be they can achieve a chosen goal

They all rely on the individual to utilize internal factors to help achieve goal

Negative reinforcement occurs when a individual is not successful with attaining their chosen goal

Differences of Theories

Individual pursue goals for specific reasons

Factors may be intrinsic or external which are determined based on the theorist’s beliefs

Each theory has a different outcome for the individual once the goal is attained

Methods Used by Educators to Motivate Adult Learners to Achieve Success

Engaging students in active learning

Providing Positive Feedback

Assisting students in setting realistic goals

Identifying goals (Job Advancement, Increased Salaries, Grades)

What impact does motivation have on learning?

Does the student have a support system?

Is there effective communication present between the student and the instructor?

Is the individual’s learning experience reflect the reasons for the pursuit of the educational experience initially?

Personal Reflection on Motivation

My pursuit of higher education and career advancement are influenced by several factors:

The need to fulfill a personal goal of becoming a professor at the college level

The want to make my mother, son and family happy and the need to make them feel proud of me

Wanting to attain career advancement

Feedback from Current Students on Motivation to Achieve Success

I interviewed four students who I taught in a licensed practical nursing program, who also attended my review class on preparation for NYS licensure. A pretest was given to determine their cognitive ability to answer questions utilizing critical thinking skills. Based on the outcome of this test, a curriculum was followed to increase their test taking techniques and prepare them to sit for their licensure exam. A questionnaire was given after reviewing this presentation.

In your opinion, what motivates students to achieve success?

to create a better life for oneself

Why do you want achieve success?

reflection from friends and colleagues’ view of your accomplishments

Pretest: (questions you received before you started the review sessions)

What did you think of the pretest?

It was different from my expectations and realized the nursing program did not prepare me for this.

What did you expect to obtain from the review course?

knowledge and strategies as a means to prepare me to be success on my NYS boards

What are some motivational factors which influenced you to pursue a career in nursing?

Negativity from othersMoneyImprove financial situationCreate opportunities for

advancement

What are some your reasons for pursuing the LPN Program?

Readiness to take next step in health care field since currently working as a certified nursing student

Did I have any influence on your decisions regarding your future, and if so, why?

You challenged me to work to my fullest potential and showed me where I could be if I was willing to work for it. I understood the meaning of sacrifice.

Now that you went through the review course and have passed your New York State Boards which make you eligible to practice as a licensed practical nurse, where do you see yourself in the next five years?

• To be enrolled in the nurse anesthetist program.

In your opinion, what motivates students to achieve success?

• The influence of friends, peers

Why do you want achieve success?

• for self gratificationPretest: (questions you received

before you started the review sessions)

What did you think of the pretest?The pretest was a rude

awakening for me. I realized all of the things I did not know. I also realized the nursing program did not prepare me to sit for my state boards

What did you expect to obtain from the review course?

I expected to obtain more information on how to answer questions using critical thinking.

knowledge and strategies as a means to prepare me to be success on my NYS boards

What are some motivational factors which influenced you to pursue a career in nursing?

Taking care of ill parentI have always worked in the

health care field and chose to further my attributes

Negative individuals who thought I could not do it

What are some your reasons for pursuing the LPN Program?

To create a better life for myself and my child. This is the first step to pursuing my long term goals.

Did I have any influence on your decisions regarding your future, and if so, why?

You were able to keep us focused and always told us our goals were never out of reach as long as I was willing to work for it.

Now that you went through the review course and have passed your New York State Boards which make you eligible to practice as a licensed practical nurse, where do you see yourself in the next five years?

I see myself being healthy, working and pursuing a degree for a registered professional nurse.

What motivates students to achieve success?

The desire to make others happy, money and self fulfillment.

Why do you want to achieve success?

To become a role model for my daughter to influence her to become success in the future.

Pretest (Questions you received prior to starting the review course)

What did you think of the pretest?

I felt it was very intimidating and realized I would have to work hard to be prepared for the state boards.

What did you expect to obtain from the review course?

I expected to be able to successfully answer questions and understand the reason why I made selected choices.

What are some motivational factors which influenced your decision to achieve success?

Being bored with current jobWanting to help others in a

different capacity. (Currently work as a certified nursing assistant).

MoneyTo influence my daughter to

want to become successfulFeel good about myself

What were some of your reasons for pursuing the LPN Program?

I was not happy with my current job as a certified nursing assistant. I wanted to increased the level in which I am able to care for others.

Did I have any influence on your decisions regarding your future, and if so, why?

Yes, because you made me work to my fullest potential even though I was not always happy about it. I realized I could eventually reach my goals if I tried hard enough

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I see myself with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing working towards a Master’s Degree in Nursing.

Evaluation of Presentation:

Were the objectives met?

Did the presenter use technology to present the information?

Questions??????????

References: Adult Learners. Rochester Institute of Technology

online learning. Retrieved from http://online.rit.edu/faculty/teaching_strategies/adult_learners.cfm

Characteristics of Adult Learners. Retrieved from http://www.assetproject.info/learner_methodologies/before/characteristics.htm

  Harris, R. (1991). Some Ideas for Motivating

Students. Retrieved from http://www.virtualsalt.com/motivate.htm

  Motivation. Retrieved from

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motivation Weller, M. (2005). General Principles of

Motivation. Los Angeles Business Journal. Retrieved from http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/motivate.htm

Wigfield, A., Eccles, J. (2002). Expectancy Value Theory of Motivation. Contemporary Educational Psychology. 25(1). Pg. 68-81.