The Motivational Benefits and Detriments of Choosing: Exploring the Complexity of Choice in Educational Contexts

• In Event: Roundtable Session 124

Session Submission Type: Roundtable Session

Abstract

A growing body of theory and research on human motivation suggests that providing students with choices may be an effective way to support adaptive motivation and learning outcomes. Some research, however, suggests that providing options and making choices may take away from students’ motivation and undermine learning outcomes under some conditions. So, in what ways is choice empowering or debilitating? This symposium explores some of the benefits and detriments of choices in educational settings. The session will include four presentations that span a diverse set of methods, nationalities, and samples for exploring these questions. One paper demonstrates that choice facilitates motivation benefits in an educational context, whereas three additional papers explore when choice may be either beneficial or detrimental.

Sub Unit

• SIG-Motivation in Education

Chair

• Suzanne E. Hidi, University of Toronto

Papers

• Provision of Choice and Grade Focus in the Written Narratives of Students From Four Countries - Christopher Peter Niemiec, University of Rochester; Ikhlas Ahmad, The University of Jordan; Yi Cheng, National Taiwan University; Erdal Hamarta, Selcuk University; Zümra Özyeşil, Istanbul Arel University; Szu-Hsien Yu, National Taiwan University

• Choice as a Motivator for Undergraduate College Students: Perceptions and Beliefs - Terri L. Flowerday, University of New Mexico

• Choices and Options Enhance Motivational Benefits, but Only When Offered in a Noncontrolling Way - Johnmarshall Reeve, Korea University

• Constructing Motivation Through Choice, Interest, and Interestingness - Erika Alisha Patall, The University of Texas - Austin