Abstract
In our cognitive motivational process model (Vollmeyer & Rheinberg, Zeitschrift für Pädagogische Psychologie, 12:11–23, 1998) we assume that initial motivation affects performance via motivation during learning and learning strategies. These variables are also central for self-regulation theories (e.g., M. Boekaerts, European Psychologist, 1:100–122, 1996). In this article we discuss methods with which the model can be tested. Initial motivation with its four factors challenge, probability of success, interest, and anxiety was measured with the Questionnaire on Current Motivation (QCM; Rheinberg, Vollmeyer, & Burns, Diagnostica, 47:57–66, 2001). As an indicator for the functional state we assessed flow with the FKS (Rheinberg, Vollmeyer, & Engeser, Diagnostik von Motivation und Selbstkonzept [Diagnosis of Motivation and Self-Concept], Hogrefe, Göttingen, Germany, 261–279, 2003). We also used different tasks, including a linear system, a hypermedia program, and university-level classes. In general, our methods are valid and with them we found support for our model.
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Notes
This model is based on data published in Vollmeyer & Rheinberg (2004).
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Acknowledgments
We would like to thank Bruce Burns and two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments.
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This research was supported by two grants (Vo 514-5, 514-10) from the German Research Foundation (DFG) to Regina Vollmeyer and Falko Rheinberg.
Appendices
Appendix 1
Items used for the four motivation scales of the QCM
Disagree | Agree | |
1. I like riddles and puzzles. (I) | ○—○—○—○—○—○—○ | |
2. I think I am up to the difficulty of this task. (P) | ○—○—○—○—○—○—○ | |
3. I probably won’t manage to do this task. (P−) | ○—○—○—○—○—○—○ | |
4. While doing this task I will enjoy playing the role of a scientist who is discovering relationships between things. (I) | ○—○—○—○—○—○—○ | |
5. I feel under pressure to do this task well. (A) | ○—○—○—○—○—○—○ | |
6. This task is a real challenge for me. (C) | ○—○—○—○—○—○—○ | |
7. After having read the instruction, the task seems to be very interesting to me. (I) | ○—○—○—○—○—○—○ | |
8. I am eager to see how I will perform in the task. (C) | ○—○—○—○—○—○—○ | |
9. I’m afraid I will make a fool out of myself. (A) | ○—○—○—○—○—○—○ | |
10. I’m really going to try as hard as I can on this task. (C) | ○—○—○—○—○—○—○ | |
11. For tasks like this I don’t need a reward, they are lots of fun anyhow. (I) | ○—○—○—○—○—○—○ | |
12. It would be embarrassing to fail at this task. (A) | ○—○—○—○—○—○—○ | |
13. I think everyone could do well on this task. (P) | ○—○—○—○—○—○—○ | |
14. I think I won’t do well at the task. (P−) | ○—○—○—○—○—○—○ | |
15. If I can do this task, I will feel proud of myself. (C) | ○—○—○—○—○—○—○ | |
16. When I think about the task, I feel somewhat concerned. (A) | ○—○—○—○—○—○—○ | |
17. I would work on this task even in my free time. (I) | ○—○—○—○—○—○—○ | |
18. I feel petrified by the demands of this task. (A) | ○—○—○—○—○—○—○ | |
Appendix 2
Items used for the FKS
Not at all | Very much | |
1. I feel just the right amount of challenge. (F) | ○—○—○—○—○—○—○ | |
2. My thoughts/activities run fluidly and smoothly. (F) | ○—○—○—○—○—○—○ | |
3. I don’t notice time passing: (F) | ○—○—○—○—○—○—○ | |
4. I have no difficulty concentrating. (F) | ○—○—○—○—○—○—○ | |
5. My mind is completely clear. (F) | ○—○—○—○—○—○—○ | |
6. I am totally absorbed in what I am doing. (F) | ○—○—○—○—○—○—○ | |
7. The right thoughts/movements occur of their own accord. (F) | ○—○—○—○—○—○—○ | |
8. I know what I have to do each step of the way. (F) | ○—○—○—○—○—○—○ | |
9. I feel that I have everything under control. (F) | ○—○—○—○—○—○—○ | |
10. I am completely lost in thought. (F) | ○—○—○—○—○—○—○ | |
11. Something important to me is at stake here. (W) | ○—○—○—○—○—○—○ | |
12. I won’t make any mistake here. (W) | ○—○—○—○—○—○—○ | |
13. I am worried about failing. (W) | ○—○—○—○—○—○—○ | |
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Vollmeyer, R., Rheinberg, F. Motivational Effects on Self-Regulated Learning with Different Tasks. Educ Psychol Rev 18, 239–253 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-006-9017-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-006-9017-0