Running Head: EDUC 4013 3 EDUC 4013 Name: Christabel Ekechukwu Institution: Walden University Date: 11/13/2016 Expectancy-Value Theories of Motivation The expectancy value has been a major aspect of achievement motivation. This approach to motivation suggests that individuals orient themselves to their surroundings according to their beliefs and expectations. Using this approach, the lack of motivation in the student I interviewed can be explained as a function of belief or perceived attitude. According to this theory, students’ achievement-related choices are determined by subjective task values. Task values can be described as to how useful important and enjoyable a person perceives a task. Expectancy is how confident a person is in their ability to perform a task. Attribution theory The student interviewed, John Brooks has been faced with challenges in scoring a high GPA in as a result of lack of motivation. The attribution theory in regards to motivation can be used to understand and examine motivation in this academic setting. It can be used to examine John’s reactions to bereavement and correlate that to subsequent motivation. In the process of understanding the academic environment, this theory can be used to understand how past events influence how students react to events in the future. The attribution theory also explains the association of certain emotional responses, such as bereavement with various causal dimensions. The psychological responses that John is going through after losing his only brother have negatively affected other behaviors in his life, such as academic performance. Social Cognitive Theory In the social learning theory, Albert Bandura explains the role of classical and operant conditioning in learning. John has incorporated this into his learning schedule by creating a rewarding mechanism. Behaviorism in psychology has been used to explain almost all aspects of human psychology, including learning. Everything in learning falls under stimuli and responses. John is motivated to work hard because he has promised himself an incentive upon achievement of the laid goals. However, this demoralizes him when he falls short of achieving his goals. The occurrence of incentives in his learning schedule ensures that John stays on track and increases the recurrence of the good behavior. Goals and Goal Orientations Goals orientation is an approach to achievement motivation used in social-cognitive approaches to learning. To enhance motivation, John should set performance and mastery goals in his learning objectives. The goal orientation approach can be used to explain why John engages in various academic works. This is achieved through the implementation of the two types of goals mentioned above. Performance goals are used to demonstrate one’s abilities about others. Students who use performance-oriented goals are more interested in competition and outperforming others. If John sets performance goals, his aim would b ...

1. Running Head: EDUC 4013 3
EDUC 4013
Name: Christabel Ekechukwu
Institution: Walden University
Date: 11/13/2016
Expectancy-Value Theories of Motivation
The expectancy value has been a major aspect of achievement
motivation. This approach to motivation suggests that
individuals orient themselves to their surroundings according to
their beliefs and expectations. Using this approach, the lack of
motivation in the student I interviewed can be explained as a
function of belief or perceived attitude. According to this
theory, students’ achievement-related choices are determined by
subjective task values. Task values can be described as to how
useful important and enjoyable a person perceives a task.
Expectancy is how confident a person is in their ability to
perform a task.
Attribution theory
The student interviewed, John Brooks has been faced with
challenges in scoring a high GPA in as a result of lack of
motivation. The attribution theory in regards to motivation can
be used to understand and examine motivation in this academic
setting. It can be used to examine John’s reactions to
bereavement and correlate that to subsequent motivation. In the
process of understanding the academic environment, this theory
can be used to understand how past events influence how
students react to events in the future. The attribution theory also

2. explains the association of certain emotional responses, such as
bereavement with various causal dimensions. The psychological
responses that John is going through after losing his only
brother have negatively affected other behaviors in his life,
such as academic performance.
Social Cognitive Theory
In the social learning theory, Albert Bandura explains the role
of classical and operant conditioning in learning. John has
incorporated this into his learning schedule by creating a
rewarding mechanism. Behaviorism in psychology has been
used to explain almost all aspects of human psychology,
including learning. Everything in learning falls under stimuli
and responses. John is motivated to work hard because he has
promised himself an incentive upon achievement of the laid
goals. However, this demoralizes him when he falls short of
achieving his goals. The occurrence of incentives in his learning
schedule ensures that John stays on track and increases the
recurrence of the good behavior.
Goals and Goal Orientations
Goals orientation is an approach to achievement motivation
used in social-cognitive approaches to learning. To enhance
motivation, John should set performance and mastery goals in
his learning objectives. The goal orientation approach can be
used to explain why John engages in various academic works.
This is achieved through the implementation of the two types of
goals mentioned above. Performance goals are used to
demonstrate one’s abilities about others. Students who use
performance-oriented goals are more interested in competition
and outperforming others. If John sets performance goals, his
aim would be to use others as a point of comparison, rather than
himself. Mastery goals are all about one understanding the task
at hand. Like John, students who set mastery-oriented goals are
interested in self-improvement and compare their current
performance to their prior achievements.
Interest and affect
The power of interest is key in driving learning among students.

3. Interest us a state of engagement that serves as a predisposition
to repeatedly engage in events, ideas or happenings over time.
Interest in learning pulls students towards new things. In a
world full of experiences, John can apply interest in narrowing
down to what is relevant in his learning. Interest and affect are
powerful players in our academic and professional performance.
Developing a passionate interest and affects towards an area of
learning can result in John overcoming his learning difficulties.
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation
Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation have different effects on
learning and behavior. Extrinsic motivation arises from outside
while intrinsic motivation is from within the individual.
Students make use of extrinsic motivation when they want to
avoid punishment or earn a reward. John is studying hard
because he wants to reward himself for good performance,
consequently improving his GPA. Intrinsic motivation comes to
play in John’s context because he wants to better his grades as
that is personally rewarding. He is motivated to perform well
for his sake as opposed to having a desire for an external
reward.
Sociocultural Influences
There has been an increase in the concern about the effects of
sociocultural factors in education and motivation. In John’s
contexts, the sociocultural factors that affect his learning are
derived from his recent past occurrence, losing his brother. This
event has altered his usual family setting and affected him
emotionally and psychologically. Dealing with bereavement
affects an individual’s sociocultural environment; it destabilizes
it. As a result, performance in other aspects of life deteriorates.
In a nutshell, John’s dropping grades are as a result of
bereavement.
Teacher Influences
Students are motivated in different ways. Instructors and
teachers can impact student behavior, positively or negatively.
A good example is from observing teacher interpersonal
behavior. Such behavior is a huge component of classroom

4. management and behavior. Research indicates that instructor
interpersonal behavior has a strong correlation to student
motivation and achievement. John’s teachers should develop or
enhance healthy interpersonal relationships as they are a
prerequisite for engaging learners in positive learning activities.
Classroom and School Influences
The classroom and school environment is a major aspect of
student learning and motivation. Learning environment has a
huge role in students’ engagement, attendance, and well-being.
The environmental elements at school and in a classroom affect
teaching and learning. A poor environment has negative effect
son teachers and students. Improving various elements of a
school environment has significant benefits. There exists a
strong link between the environment and the learners’
behaviors, attitudes and achievements.
References
Laureate Education (Producer). (2011). Motivation and
learning: Modeling a love of reading
[Video file]. Retrieved from
https://class.waldenu.edu
Application Assignment: Recommendations for Increasing
Motivation
Last week you identified causes of the lack of motivation that
your project participant is experiencing. Drawing from all that

5. you have learned about this individual's situation and the
apparent causes of the loss of motivation, develop three to five
recommendations for this individual that will help him or her
regain and sustain motivation. Describe each recommendation in
detail and provide a rationale based on research and theory on
learner motivation.
Assignment length: 2–3 pages
Resources to Use:
This page contains the Learning Resources for this week. Be
sure to scroll down the page to see all of the assigned resources
for this week. To view this week's media resources, please use
the streaming media player below.
Required Readings
There are no required readings this week.
Media
Video: Laureate Education (Producer). (2011). Motivation and
learning: Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation [Video file].
Retrieved from https://class.waldenu.edu
Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 9 minutes.
In this program, Dr. Raymond Wlodkowski explains the
different reasons people are motivated and why culture and
motivation are inseparable. As well, he also provides us with
the distinctions between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.
Accessible player
Optional Resources
Course Text: Motivation in Education: Theory, Research and

6. Applications
Chapter 6: "Interest and Affect"
Chapter 7: "Intrinsic Motivation"