Definitions and further explanation of article

Motivation means to be moved into action, to be moved to do something.

Orientation of Motivation means what type of motivation is being produced.

This is concerned with the underlying cause or goal of why the person chose to do something.

Intrinsic motivation pertains to do something because it is interesting and

enjoyable. The activity itself is the reward.

From birth humans are “inquisitive, curious and playful creatures” who show a willingness to learn without being given a reward to do so. This just comes naturally to humans. Researchers say that this is a critical element in social and physical development; acting naturally on one’s interest the person will grow in knowledge and skills.

The free choice type of motivation: “The experimenter tells participants that they will not be asked to work on the target task any further and they are then left along in the experimental room with the target task as well as various distracter activities. They thus have a period of “free choice” about whether to return to the activity and it is assumed that, if there is no extrinsic reason to do the task, the more time they spend with the target task, the more intrinsically motivated they are for the task.

Cognitive Evaluation Theory (CET) argues that rewards, feedback and communication are all conducive towards feelings of competence. Feelings of competence can increase intrinsic motivation. But this theory also states that this feeling of competence will not enhance intrinsic motivation without a sense of autonomy.

Extrinsic Motivation is the opposite of intrinsic motivation. It refers to doing and activity only because of the reward or outcome.

For example: a student who is doing his homework only so that his parents don’t yell at his is extrinsically motivated. He is only doing his homework because he wants the reward of not being yelled at.

Internalization refers to how a person’s behavior can range from amotivation or unwillingness to passive compliance to active personal commitment.

Integration is the process by which individuals more fully transform the regulation into their own so that it will emanate from their sense of self.

Amotivation means that a person does not have the intention to act. This results from not valuing an activity, or not believing that the activity will have a favorable outcome or reward.