Suppose you are a university counselor who wants to develop a program to improve students' academic performance. You believe that many students perform poorly because of motivational problems, including simple lack of motivation as well as being motivated by the wrong things. What are some of the considerations that should guide the design of your program?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Much of what theory and research have to say about motivation is relevant in designing such a program. Good answers to this question should include and flesh out several of the following points.

The problem of lack of incentive can be dealt with, in part, by remembering that motivation can be influenced by incentives. It's important to know that some motives are biological, some social. One's level of motivation to perform well in school depends on social experiences and can thus be manipulated through social experience. It may be possible to link motivation to perform well in school with other motives that are already stronger, such as the need for achievement. Success along these lines will require understanding the nature of individual differences in levels of these other motives. People with different levels of achievement motivation respond differently to different levels of challenge.