What is Motivation?

Download PDF (343 KB)

Motivation is the activation of goal-orientated behavior. Motivation is a fluctuating state not a permanent personality trait; it is fluid and changeable. Across the long time-frame of graduate studies, the level of motivation a person experiences changes in response to the myriad of experiences and changing levels of confidence (Morton and Thornley, 2001). Motivation is viewed as important for surviving the multiple stages within doctoral studies (Geraniou, 2010).

Traditionally motivation has been described as a uni-dimensional concept having two types:

   INTRINSIC

 

 

--inner, belonging naturally. The drive to act comes from values based rewards such as personal enjoyment or satisfaction.

    EXTRINSIC

 

 

--coming or operating from outside. Tangible rewards sustain activity such as grades, pay or recognition from others.

Both forms of motivation are appropriately used in different situations.  A number of studies have shown:

• people with higher levels of intrinsic motivation are happier
• creativity is fostered through intrinsic motivation
• intrinsic motivation is associated with lower levels of burnout (Pisarik, 2009)
• extrinsic motivators can increase the output of work, at least temporarily
• extrinsic motivators are useful in teaching new skills
• increasing the level of incentives reduces internal drive, and performance

For an amusing graduate student blog, read “Looks to be intrinsic”

http://webpub.allegheny.edu/student/f/fillerb/weblog/2009/05/looks_to_be_intrinsic.html.

“On the Surprising Science of Motivation”, Pink presents research done by Ariely, Gneezy, Loewenstein, and Mazar (2005) on the negative impact of higher rewards on performance.

Index

This module contains information, tools and strategies on:

Motivation Theories

Factors that Affect Motivation

Challenges to Motivation at Grad School

Strategies to Keep Motivated

Sample Motivational Plan

References and Resources