A Strategy for Increasing Student Motivation on Low-Stakes Assessments

• In Event: Measuring College-Level Skills

Abstract

Low-stakes assessments are increasingly being used by institutions of higher education as measures of student learning. One issue facing the validity of these assessments is that of student motivation, as research indicates that student motivation may play a large role in influencing test scores. To address this issue, the current study sought to increase motivation and, in turn, performance by appealing to students’ sense of academic citizenship. Results of the study reveal that while this manipulation increases students’ motivation, it does not appear to lead to improved performance on low-stakes assessments.

Authors

• Zachary George Charles Kornhauser, Council for Aid to Education

• Jillian Minahan, Fordham University

• Karen L. Siedlecki, Fordham University

• Jeffrey T. Steedle, Pearson