Motivation: The Value of Developing Intrinsic Motivation in Elementary School Students in Grades Four Through Six

Abstract

This study sought to fill the gap in the literature concerning intrinsic motivation in elementary students in Grades 4–6 by examining 155 elementary school students and in-depth interviews with three elementary grade teachers. This study used data collected from the self-report survey called the Children’s Academic Intrinsic Motivation Inventory (CAIMI) and from three in-depth elementary school teacher interviews. The study sought to answer the following questions: Is there a difference in student intrinsic motivation levels based on grade level? Do elementary school males and females differ in his or her intrinsic motivation in Grades 4–6? Is there a difference in intrinsic motivation within the subject areas of reading, math, social studies and science? Is there a correlation between a child’s intrinsic motivation level and his or her academic performance? What are examples of things that teachers do to promote intrinsic motivation in his or her students, and to what extent are they implemented? The findings of this study indicate that there is not a significant difference with the intrinsic motivation between the grade levels or between the genders. A student’s intrinsic motivation within the subject areas of reading, math, and social studies was relatively the same, however, there was a significant statistical difference in science. There was a correlation between a student’s intrinsic motivation level and his or her academic achievement in science. Lastly, based upon the data collected and the teachers’ interviews, four recommendations on how to foster intrinsic motivation in students in Grades 4–6 were made. Keywords: motivation, intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, elementary, reading, math, science, and social studies.