Abstract
The hypothesis of this study assumes that the cognitive effects of motivation result primarily from the relevance of what is being learned, that is, whether the ideas being studied are meaningful and whether they fulfill the goals of the learner. This study compared the effects of intrinsic relevance (material fulfilling a purpose or need of the learner) with embedded, extrinsic relevance-enhancing strategies based on the ARCS (attention, relevance, confidence, and satisfaction) Model of Instruction on perceived motivation and the learning outcomes of identification, terminology, comprehension, and drawing. Both intrinsic and extrinsic strategies enhanced the motivation of the college learners and their performance on identification, terminology, and comprehension questions following instruction. Embedded relevance-enhancing strategies resulted in greater motivation and performance gains than did intrinsic relevance.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ames, R., & Ames, C. (1989).Research on motivation in education: Goals and cognitions. New York: Academic Press.
Atkinson, J.W. (1964)An introduction to motivation. New York: D. Van Nostrand.
Brophy, J. (1987). Synthesis of research on strategies for motivating students to learn.Educational Leadership, 45, 40–48.
Dweck, E., & Elliott, G. (1983). Achievement motivation. In P.H. Mussen (Ed.),Handbook of child psychology, 4 (pp. 643–691). New York: Wiley & Sons.
Dwyer, F.M. (1978).Strategies for improving visual learning. State College, PA: Learning Services, Inc.
Dwyer, F.M., & Lamberski, R. (1977).The human heart: Parts of the heart, circulation of blood and cycle of blood pressure. Unpublished manuscript.
Feather, N.T. (1961). The relationship of persistence at a task to expectation of success and achievement related motives.Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 63, 552–561.
Flannigan, M., & Paulson, D. (1991). Teaching interpretive skills in instruction. In R.F. Dillon, & J.W. Pellegrino (Eds.),Instruction, theoretical and applied perspectives (pp.140–149).New York:Praeger.
Ford, M.E. (1992).Motivating humans: Goals, emotions, and personal agency beliefs. London: Sage Publications.
Fyans, L.J., & Maehr, M.L. (1987).Sources of student achievement: Students' motivation, school context and family background. Unpublished paper.
Fulford, C.P., & Zhang, S. (1993). Perceptions of interaction: The critical predictor in distance education.American Journal of Distance Education, 7(2), 8–21.
Herndon, J.N. (1987). Learner interests, achievement, and continuing motivation in instruction.Journal of Instructional Development, 10(3), 11–14.
Keller, J.M. (1983) Motivational design of instruction. In C.M. Reigeluth (Ed.),Instructional design theories and models: An overview of their current status (pp.383–433).Hillsdale, NJ:Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Keller, J.M. (1987a). Development and use of the ARCS model of instructional design.Journal of Instructional Development, 10(3), 2–10.
Keller, J.M. (1987b).Instructional materials motivation scale (IMMS). Unpublished manuscript. The Florida State University.
Keller, J.M. (1987c). Strategies for stimulating the motivation to learn.Performance & Instruction, 26(8), 1–7.
Keller, J.M. (1987d). The systematic process of motivational design.Performance & Instruction, 26(9), 1–8.
Keller, J.M., & Kopp, T.W. (1987). Application of the ARCS model to motivational design. In C.M. Reigeluth (Ed.),Instructional theories in action: Lessons illustrating selected theories (pp. 289–320). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Keller, J.M., & Suzuki, K. (1988). Application of the ARCS model of courseware design. In D.H. Jonassen (Ed.),Instructional designs for microcomputer courseware (pp.401–434).New York:Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
Klein, J.D. (1990).The effects of student ability, locus of control, and type of instructional control on motivation and performance. Doctoral dissertation, Florida State University.
Klein, J.D., & Freitag, E.T. (1992). Training students to utilize self-motivational strategies.Educational Technology, 32(1), 44–48.
Maehr, M.L. (1985). Meaning and motivation: Personal investment. In R. Ames, & C. Ames, (Eds.),Research on motivation in education: Student motivation (pp. 115–144). New York: Academic Press.
Mager, R.F., & Clark, C. (1963). Explorations in student-controlled instruction.Psychological Reports, 13, 71–76.
McGraw, K. & Fiala, J. (1982). Undermining the Zeigarnik effect: Another hidden cost of reward.Journal of Personality, 50, 58–66.
McKeachie, W.J., Pintrich, P.R., & Lin, Y. (1985). Teaching learning strategies.Educational Psychologist, 20, 153–160.
Moller, L. (1993).Increasing learner motivation and achievement through confidence building strategies. Doctoral dissertation, Purdue University.
Myers, J.L., Hansen, R.S., Robson, R.C., & McCann, J. (1983). The role of explanation in learning elementary probability.Journal of Educational Psychology, 75, 374–389.
Naime-Diefenbach, B. (1991).Validation of attention and confidence as independent components of the ARCS motivational model. Doctoral dissertation, Florida State University.
Newby, T.J. (1991). Classroom motivation: Strategies of first-year teachers.Journal of Educational Psychology, 83(2), 195–200.
Oxford, R., Park-Oh, Y., Ito, S., & Sumrall, M. (1993). Factors affecting achievement in a satellite-delivered Japanese language program.The American Journal of Distance Education, 7(1), 11–25.
Pintrich, P.R. (1989). A process-oriented view of student motivation and cognition. In J. Stark, & L. Mets (Eds.),Improving teaching and learning through research: New directions for institutional research, 57 (pp. 65–79). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Pokay, P., & Blumenfeld, P.C. (1990). Predicting achievement early and late in the semester: The role of motivation and use of learning strategies.Journal of Educational Psychology, 82(1), 41–50.
Price, C.B. (1989).The influence of textual display in printed instruction on attention and performance. Doctoral dissertation, Florida State University.
Ross, S.M., McCormick, D., & Krisk, N. (1986). Adapting the thematic context of mathematical problems to student interests: Individual versus group-based strategies.Journal of Educational Research, 79, 245–252.
Ross, S.M., Morrison, G.R., & O'Dell, J.K. (1989). Uses and effects of learner control of context and instructional support in computer-based instruction.Educational Technology Research and Development, 37(4), 29–39.
Schunk, D.J. (1989). Self-efficacy and cognitive skill learning. In R. Ames, & C. Ames (Eds.),Research on motivation in education: Goals and cognitions (pp. 13–44). New York: Academic Press.
Tilar, A., & Rossett, A. (1993). Creating motivating job aids.Performance & Instruction, 32, 13–20.
Viechnicki, K.J., Bohlin, R.M., & Milheim, W.D. (1990). Instructional motivation of adult learners: Analysis of student perceptions in continuing education.The Journal of Continuing Higher Education, 38(3), 10–14.
Visser, J., & Keller, J. (1990). The clinical use of motivational messages: An inquiry into the validity of the ARCS model of motivational design.Instructional Science, 19, 467–500.
Walbery, T. (1981). A psychological theory of educational productivity. In F.H. Farley & N. Gordon (Eds.),Psychology and education. Berkeley, CA: McCutchan.
Walbery, T. (1984). Improving the productivity of American schools.Educational Leadership, 41, 19–30.
Weiner, B. (1986).An attributional theory of motivation and emotion. New York: Springer-Verlag.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
She is currently teaching reading and writing strategies to elementary school children.
His publications include the recently completedHandbook of Research for Educational Communications and Technology, reviewed in this issue.
Francis M. Dwyer is Professor of Instructional Systems at the Pennsylvania State University, where he has been a leading researcher in the role of visuals in instruction. He is a past-president of AECT.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Means, T.B., Jonassen, D.H. & Dwyer, F.M. Enhancing relevance: Embedded ARCS strategies vs. Purpose. ETR&D 45, 5–17 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02299610
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02299610