Is Motivation Too Situational to Replicate? Examining Fluctuations in Motivation Across Demographic and Institutional Contexts

• In Event: Contextual Influences on Motivation: Values, Beliefs, and Situational Dynamics

Abstract

Following calls to examine the situational nature of motivation across contexts, this third study in a three-part series conceptually replicates prior work using intensive longitudinal data from 369 students in two introductory statistics courses. Students reported expectancy, utility value, intrinsic value, and cost beliefs across 10 timepoints. All constructs showed substantial within- and between-student variability, with utility value consistently predicting performance at both levels. While gender moderated some associations, effects of racially marginalized and first- generation status were inconsistent and failed to replicate earlier findings–even those from the same institution, using similar course content and comparable samples. These results reinforce situated expectancy-value-cost frameworks and highlight the importance of context-responsive instructional support–and raise the question: are motivational beliefs too situational to replicate?

Authors

• Claudia C. Sutter, CourseKata

• Delaram A. Totonchi, University of Virginia

• Jamie DeCoster, University of Virginia

• Chris S. Hulleman, University of Virginia

• Kenn E. Barron, James Madison University