In the world of education, we often rely on rewards and punishments to motivate students. We hand out gold stars for good grades, offer prizes for completing assignments, and threaten detention for bad behavior. But what if this approach is actually backfiring?
A growing body of research suggests that external rewards can actually crowd out intrinsic motivation, the natural desire to learn and explore. When we reward students for doing something, they may start to do it for the reward itself, rather than for the enjoyment or satisfaction of learning. This can have a long-term impact, as students who are extrinsically motivated may be less likely to pursue learning on their own in the future.
Understanding Motivation Crowding Out
The concept of motivation crowding out is based on the work of Edward Deci, a researcher at the University of Rochester and the co-creator of Self-Determination Theory. In one famous study, Deci and his colleagues found that people who were offered a financial reward for solving puzzles were less interested in solving puzzles later on their own time, compared to those who were not offered a reward.
This suggests that when we offer external rewards for tasks that are already intrinsically motivating, we can actually undermine the student’s natural desire to learn.
What This Means for Educators
So, what does this mean for educators? It means that we need to be careful about how we use extrinsic rewards. Here are a few tips:
- Focus on intrinsic motivation: Whenever possible, try to find ways to tap into students’ intrinsic motivation. This could involve providing opportunities for choice, autonomy, and collaboration.
- Use extrinsic rewards strategically: If you do use extrinsic rewards, make sure they are aligned with intrinsic motivation. For example, you could offer rewards for completing challenging tasks or for demonstrating mastery of a new skill.
- Help students develop a growth mindset: A growth mindset is the belief that intelligence and ability can be developed over time. Students with a growth mindset are more likely to be intrinsically motivated to learn.
Conclusion
By understanding the concept of motivation crowding out, we can start to create classrooms that foster a love of learning. When we focus on intrinsic motivation, we help students develop a lifelong passion for knowledge and exploration.