In this article, problems in current academic motivation research and their solutions are discussed. From a theoretical standpoint, it is argued that the field suffers from a lack of comprehensive models that are capable of capturing the full dynamics underlying observed behaviors. Different theoretical orientations among researchers often result in a rather arbitrary inclusion or exclusion of variables which leads to the misspecification of models. A lack of discriminant validity among motivational constructs exacerbates the problem. Furthermore, the issue of motivational influences on specific phases of information-processing and their interaction with different types of knowledge has largely been neglected. From a measurement perspective, heavy reliance on self-reporting questionnaires is once again criticized. It is argued that such practice overlooks motivational fluctuation both over time and across domains, assuming a greater degree of generalization of academic motivation without empirical support. Several solutions are suggested for each problem and their advantages and disadvantages are considered.
%0 Journal Article
%1 Bong1996.20140805
%A Bong, Mimi
%D 1996
%J Contemporary Educational Psychology
%K Motivation
%N 2
%P 149--165
%R 10.1006/ceps.1996.0013
%T Problems in Academic Motivation Research and Advantages and Disadvantages of Their Solutions
%U http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0361476X96900132
%V 21
%X In this article, problems in current academic motivation research and their solutions are discussed. From a theoretical standpoint, it is argued that the field suffers from a lack of comprehensive models that are capable of capturing the full dynamics underlying observed behaviors. Different theoretical orientations among researchers often result in a rather arbitrary inclusion or exclusion of variables which leads to the misspecification of models. A lack of discriminant validity among motivational constructs exacerbates the problem. Furthermore, the issue of motivational influences on specific phases of information-processing and their interaction with different types of knowledge has largely been neglected. From a measurement perspective, heavy reliance on self-reporting questionnaires is once again criticized. It is argued that such practice overlooks motivational fluctuation both over time and across domains, assuming a greater degree of generalization of academic motivation without empirical support. Several solutions are suggested for each problem and their advantages and disadvantages are considered.
@article{Bong1996.20140805,
abstract = {In this article, problems in current academic motivation research and their solutions are discussed. From a theoretical standpoint, it is argued that the field suffers from a lack of comprehensive models that are capable of capturing the full dynamics underlying observed behaviors. Different theoretical orientations among researchers often result in a rather arbitrary inclusion or exclusion of variables which leads to the misspecification of models. A lack of discriminant validity among motivational constructs exacerbates the problem. Furthermore, the issue of motivational influences on specific phases of information-processing and their interaction with different types of knowledge has largely been neglected. From a measurement perspective, heavy reliance on self-reporting questionnaires is once again criticized. It is argued that such practice overlooks motivational fluctuation both over time and across domains, assuming a greater degree of generalization of academic motivation without empirical support. Several solutions are suggested for each problem and their advantages and disadvantages are considered.},
added-at = {2014-08-05T11:49:56.000+0200},
author = {Bong, Mimi},
biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/2bd10f2f9b5aa6256cdbcae2f3a4e19cc/agism-group},
doi = {10.1006/ceps.1996.0013},
interhash = {163d2212d6446b42bce1ea2191f49b37},
intrahash = {bd10f2f9b5aa6256cdbcae2f3a4e19cc},
issn = {0361-476X},
journal = {Contemporary Educational Psychology},
keywords = {Motivation},
number = 2,
pages = {149--165},
timestamp = {2014-08-05T12:03:43.000+0200},
title = {Problems in Academic Motivation Research and Advantages and Disadvantages of Their Solutions},
url = {http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0361476X96900132},
volume = 21,
year = 1996
}