Motivational factors for youth recruitment in voluntary interventions: the case of a community sport program

Recruitment is known to be a challenge for intervention programs targeting youths, including sports programs. Following the popularity of the Alter-Action program of the Montreal-based organization DesÉquilibres, we wanted to understand the motivations and barriers to youths' recruitment in this voluntary sports community program. A qualitative methodology was favored. We conducted 27 semi-structured interviews (n = 27) with participants, 5 (n = 5) with the partners, and we carried out a focus group with 5 (n = 5) of the organization's service practitioners. We also conducted a participant observation with youth cohorts and during preparatory meetings. Five factors influencing recruitment emerged: (1) socialization/belonging; (2) training/physical aspects; (3) ‘extraordinary’ dimension; (4) practicality of the program; and (5) social influences. Four key elements thus appear important to consider when promoting the recruitment of youths in voluntary community programs: (1) favoring social interactions; (2) insisting on the specific and beneficial elements of the program; (3) allowing youths to experiment a trial period; and (4) including testimonies of former participants in the information session. Further recommendations for psychosocial intervention programs targeting youths are discussed in this article.     

Comparison of crowdsourcing platforms from social-psychological and motivational perspectives

The increasing need to compete in innovation and the prevalence of IT in social and economic interactions have led to greater globalization in innovation sourcing, particularly through online crowdsourcing platforms. Crowdsourcing platform participation, a phenomenon inadequately covered, is an instance of providing an innovative solution or idea intertwined with personal and social factors that interact to result in a behavior. A better understanding of the impact of social factors and participants’ hedonic, utilitarian, and social motivations can guide the design and management of these crowdsourcing platforms to foster sustained engagement. This study considered the competitive and social nature of these platforms and analyzed participation intentions from a novel standpoint—a combination of motivational and socio-cognitive perspectives and their relationships within two different types of crowdsourcing platforms: Atizo’s third-party-hosted community and Nokia’s brand-hosted IdeasProject community. A comparison of these two types of crowdsourcing platforms for the same activity of ideation at an individual level revealed differences in behavior determinants based on the platform host type, domain specificity, and mechanisms supporting different motives and social factors.     

网上交谈对英语学习的激励作用初探

网络在教学中的普及促生了网上交谈在英语课堂的应用。本文通过实验数据对网络交谈和小组面谈的激励作用进行了比较分析,结果表明前者的激励作用较强,学生在网上交谈的分配和目标语的产出更为合理;学生也表示更喜欢网上交谈。因此,我们认为网上交谈可以作为英语教师组织课堂活动的一项有效补充。     

EFL teachers' behavior of using motivational strategies: The case of teaching in the Korean context

While studies have investigated the role of motivation in learning and teaching, research on teachers' motivational strategies remains scarce. This study examined the motivating behavior of in-service teachers of English in Korea (N = 12). Videotapes of the teachers' classes were analyzed based on Keller's ARCS model using NVivo, revealing that the teachers did not effectively utilize motivational strategies or tactics, except for attention. Additionally, teachers' motivational strategies were correlated positively with their language proficiency but negatively with teaching experience. Finally, teachers' motivational strategies were shown to be grounded in traditional teacher-centered approaches rather than the promotion of student ownership of learning.     

Mixed effects of a randomized trial replication study testing a cost-focused motivational intervention

This study attempted to replicate a prior intervention study focused on reducing students' perceptions of cost to enhance their course performance. Undergraduate biology students (N = 147) were randomly assigned to complete a cost-focused intervention or a control condition. The intervention was designed to help students re-attribute their course challenges more adaptively, with a goal that this would help students perceive less cost associated with the challenges. Contrary to hypotheses, the intervention increased students’ perceptions of cost at two time points. However, it also predicted higher scores on one of two course exams. Results demonstrate that cost-focused interventions may increase cost in some contexts, pointing to the context-specificity of intervention materials and the importance of replicating successful motivational interventions. However, results also suggest that increased cost does not necessarily correspond to lower academic performance in the context of an intervention aiming to help students re-appraise course challenges.     

The impact of science motivation on cognitive achievement within a 3-lesson unit about renewable energies

Our study analyzed the influence of motivation towards science in relation individual cognitive achievement scores. 232 10th graders of college preparatory school level (‘Gymnasium’) completed a cognitive achievement test three times and a questionnaire quantifying motivation towards science once. A three-lesson module dealt with aspects of the topic renewable energies. The knowledge test was applied one week before (T-0), directly after (T-1) and six weeks after (T-2) participation in the learning module. The questionnaire on science motivation was completed at T-0 in order to receive unaffected data. A test-retest group (acting as control group) of 37 students completed the questionnaires with no intervention. Three motivational groups were selected: highly motivated, intermediate and less motivated. The intervention group showed substantial knowledge gain in short- and in long-term perspectives, almost independently of motivational levels. A positive linear relation between motivation and content knowledge was observable for each test schedule. In particular, intrinsic factors are shown to be responsible for this relationship.We recommend implementing appropriately designed educational settings to promote intrinsic aspects in order to foster performance almost independently of pre-existing knowledge and science motivation We presume pre-existing knowledge as well as learning to be influenced by motivation towards science. Also, pre-existing knowledge may influence individual motivation towards science. Consequently, beyond scientific contents, a focus on motivation of adolescents in science may lead to a synergetic effect for life-long learning.     

Impairments in learning due to motivational conflict: situation really matters

Although many theories mention distractions by conflicting alternatives as a problem for self-regulation, motivational conflicts are rarely considered when explaining impairments in learning. In two studies, we investigate the assumption of motivational interference theory that students show different amounts of impairments in learning depending on the presence and motivational strength of conflicting alternatives. In Study 1 (N?=?221), the subjective value attributed to a respective alternative in a study–leisure conflict scenario partially accounted for differences in self-regulated learning while controlling for interindividual differences. Study 2 (N?=?112) demonstrated that this pattern applies to both when the respective alternatives refer to ‘liking to’ (want conflicts) and ‘having to’ (should conflicts) do something. Moreover, it is demonstrated that impairments due to motivational conflict are higher than impairments inherent in the studying activity itself (baseline). The results emphasise the importance of concurring action alternatives for explaining difficulties in self-regulated learning.     

教育游戏激励学习动机的因素分析与设计策略

文章分析了教育游戏这一具有游戏特性和教育功用的电脑游戏对学习动机的激励效应,并列举相关实证研究。继而,文章从个体心理因素、群体心理因素两个方面分析了教育游戏中激发和维持学习动机的主要因素,提出激励学习动机的教育游戏设计策略。     

Examination of the psychometric properties of the Perceived Motivational Climate in Sport Questionnaire - 2 in a sample of female athletes

We undertook two studies to determine the validity and reliability of the revised Perceived Motivational Climate in Sport Questionnaire (PMCSQ-2). In Study 1, 201 female athletes (mean age 16.4 years) were administered the initial version of the PMCSQ-2 and a measure of reported tension and pressure experienced in sport. Exploratory principal component analysis suggested that the PMCSQ-2 contained two higher-order scales (Task-Involving and Ego-Involving climates), each with three subscales (Task: Cooperative Learning, Effort/Improvement, Important Role; Ego: Intra-Team Member Rivalry, Unequal Recognition, Punishment for Mistakes). In Study 2, 385 female volleyball players (mean age 15.2 years) completed the PMCSQ-2, the Intrinsic Motivation Inventory and a measure of Team Satisfaction. Confirmatory factor analysis was applied to six competing models. The oblique six-factor model and oblique hierarchical model provided comparable fit to the data. Acceptable fit was reached based on model respecification. Across Studies 1 and 2, internal consistency was found to be acceptable for the higher-order scales and subscales (with the exception of the Intra-Team Member Rivalry subscale). We found evidence for the concurrent validity of the instrument.     

Instructional Climates in Preschool Children Who Are At-Risk. Part II

In Part II of this study, we examined the effect of two 9-week instructional climates (low-autonomy [LA] and mastery motivational climate [MMC]) on perceived physical competence (PPC) in preschoolers (N = 117). Participants were randomly assigned to an LA, MMC, or comparison group. PPC was assessed by a pretest, posttest, and retention test with the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance. A significant Treatment × Time interaction (p < .001) was present, supporting that MMC participants reported significantly higher PPC scores over time, while no positive changes were present in LA and comparison participants. The results show that an MMC leads to psychological benefits related to achievement motivation. These findings should encourage early childhood educators to consider the effect of instructional climates on children's self-perception.