The Role of Motivation in Education

Abstract

The notion of “problem children” is well-known in Education. According to Galloway et al. (1998), their behaviour might be a matter of concern for their teachers and the educational institution itself, as well as their family and the whole community. Moreover, teachers explain their poor behaviour and low academic achievements by the lack of motivation (Galloway et al., 1998). 

Motivation is an important emotional aspect of the human life, as it may drive people to success from a very early age. This success can be achieved in sports, arts or in science, but the basis of it is in the way they were motivated while being educated.

As long as, motivation has a significant role in the learning process, many scientists have conducted research on how it “works”, in order to manipulate it to foster a necessary form of behaviour in students. Therefore, the range of theories on motivation varies. 

This article will first of all focus on discussion of the theories of Achievement Motivation and Intrinsic Motivation, along with an explanation what they contribute to our understanding of the way students learn. Then, the issue of motivation will be addressed to implications of the theories for teaching and learning.