Examining the Role of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation in Reading Achievement: Insights from Elementary Schools

Abstract

This study explores a correlation between intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation and reading achievement among elementary school level students. The research paper relates the importance of motivation in literacy because it determines the impact made on the performance in the reading by the different types of motivation on the students. The surveys determined the self-constituted motivation levels of the students they were analyzed along with their studying rankings in reading and the teacher perceptions of what activities were the students involved in when reading in the classroom. Students who are the intrinsically motivated perform better according to the findings as compared to the students that are externally motivated. The fact that motivation was enhanced as well was also pointed out as classroom activity to define the mechanisms of engagement and interest was given. According to the researchers, what they recommend to the teachers is that the latter should focus on eliciting meaningful behaviours/intrinsically-oriented performances through the means of engagement and diverse reading materials, since they can cautiously apply extrinsic rewards to lure the temporary participation.