Motivational Factors for Participation in Enrichment Programs: A Topic Modeling Study

• In Event: Engagement, Motivation, and Efficacy

Abstract

This study aimed to uncover the motivations for participating in enrichment programs. The dataset included application essays from 436 secondary gifted and talented students interested in participating a university-based summer enrichment program in the Midwest U.S. between 2021 and 2024. Using Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) topic modeling through the lens of the Situated Expectancy-Value Theory (SEVT), the findings suggested that gifted students were driven by (a) interest, particularly in STEM-related topics, (b) perceived potential benefits for their short- or long-term goals (e.g., career development), and (c) challenging academic and artistic activities. These motivational factors varied by gender, race/ethnicity, grade level, and international student status, suggesting that enrichment programs should be tailored based on the needs of diverse demographics.

Authors

• Tugce Karatas, Purdue University

• Yuxiao Zhang, Purdue University

• Nielsen Pereira, Purdue University/Gifted Education Research & Resource Institute