In this course you will begin to develop a familiarity with the field of achievement motivation, especially as it relates to motivation to learn in school. This development will include growth in your ability to critically analyze the research literature, and to take and support positions on issues of motivation, both orally and in writing. You will select a topic or problem of motivation to explore further in individual term projects. The aim of this course is to prepare students for the further study of motivation as creators and consumers of research.
The first part of the course will help students develop a theoretical framework for the study of motivation. We will study four major current approaches to research on achievement motivation and contrast their perspectives, predictions, and supporting and disconfirming evidence. The class will select two additional topics in motivation for the last two weeks of class. The final class meeting will be devoted to an informal discussion of your term projects. Projects will provide an opportunity for you to expand on what you learn in the course by exploring a motivation question of particular interest to you.
You are expected to (a) attend class having read the assigned readings and prepared to discuss them, (b) write three acceptable short papers responding to the readings and discussion, (c) hand in the required project prospectus and rough draft, and (d) prepare and submit a term project which demonstrates your ability to use knowledge gained in the course to explore a problem of achievement motivation. I will lecture very little; come prepared to question, discuss, and critique the articles and to further develop your understanding of the theories.
Short Thematic Papers (50% of term grade)
You will write three 3-4 page short thematic papers (STPs) during the quarter (see schedule). Each paper will include your current thinking about an aspect of the readings and discussion during the previous two weeks. Each set of readings will include two or three theoretical perspectives; your papers should include comparison and contrast of the different perspectives around some theme.
Thematic papers are NOT summaries of the readings, but rather an opportunity for you to "think on paper" about the theories and their implications, and to get feedback from me. It is quite legitimate to raise questions or to examine your own grasp of ideas studied, and to relate the readings to your past and present experiences as a student or as an educator. It is also helpful to try out positions and arguments related to your project on a critical reader (me). We may decide to share the second and third papers with the group.
Thematic papers will be graded acceptable/unacceptable (check/no check). I will provide helpful written feedback, both on the content of your thinking and on your written expression. I also encourage you to discuss your work individually with me throughout the quarter, and well as with your fellow students. Unacceptable papers should be resubmitted following revision, accompanied by the original version. You must submit at least two acceptable thematic papers. Two acceptable papers = 2.7; three acceptable papers = 4.0.
For a sample thematic paper, click here.
Term projects (50% of term grade)
Each student will select a question or problem related to achievement motivation for further study. Projects will vary depending on your interests and skills, but in general they must demonstrate that you have understood the theories and issues discussed in this seminar well enough to use some of them to explore your question. Possible formats include (a) a proposal for research--especially good for students planning on doing research and who have had coursework or experience in research design, (b) a case study of a student, group, or client with a motivation problem which analyzes and proposes a solutions for the problem from different theoretical perspectives--especially good for practitioners, (c) a literature review exploring some focused question or problem, or (d) other formats suitable to both your question and my need to assess your understanding (these need to be negotiated with me). All papers should be prepared following the APA style manual.
You will fill out a Project Prospectus which will be due in a few weeks; a rough draft (at least a detailed outline, reading list, and one section of your paper completed, all of which show how you will be using theories from this seminar) will be due about two weeks later (see schedule for dates). The prospectus and rough draft are required; you must turn them in for feedback before I will accept your final project. In addition to these formal collections of your work in progress, I will be happy to give you oral or written feedback on your projects at any time during the term.