Analysis of Engineering Student Motivation using the Expectancy Value Theory
Eric Gauck
December 5th, 2014
Colorado State University
JTC 300 – R27 eric.gauck@gmail.com Abstract
The purpose of this research is to examine the initial preconceptions that engineering freshmen believe when they first arrive at Colorado State University. Specifically, it will examine the dichotomies between student perception and reality; hopefully revealing the perceptions and values which lead students to leave or persevere in engineering. The focus of analysis on student motivation utilizes the Expectancy-Value Theory. Three aspects of the Expectancy Value Theory, expectation, utility, and perseverance, are significant factors which contribute to the completion of challenges. These factors are integrated into a questionnaire designed to evaluate the expectations of freshman engineering students. The implementation of a numerically scaled questionnaire developed from components of the Expectancy Value Theory allows the abstract concept of motivation to be quantified. The analysis of 86 freshman engineering students found that students will need to develop a value in what they are learning or a drive for future goals to persist in completing their declared degrees. Further data collection is recommended to improve sample quality.
Introduction
This empirical report tests a sample population to better understand the motivations and expectations for freshman engineering students. The intent
According to the National Center for Education Statistics, of the students seeking a bachelor's degree at a four-year university, on average, only 59% of them graduate within six years. It is unfortunate to note that even with the extra two years, students still struggle to persist through graduation, due to numerous hindering factors. Hence, the issue of college success now lies within the central realm of scholarly research, with numerous scholars applying previously known psychological theories to education, including Kurt Lewin’s force-field analysis model, Abraham Maslow’s need reduction theory for motivation, and the self-efficacy and attribution theories. Together, these theories have provided a framework to discover
From 3D printers and computers to laser engravers and tensile testers, our engineering program has had opportunities to teach its students in a professional engineering environment, making them one step ahead of everyone else in their pursue of a career. The importance of CTE can be seen in the academic and professional success of the students as well as the career success of the graduates. Funding and support, like that which comes from the Perkins Act, is key to the success and achievement of the students, in addition to ensuring that America will have a strong and educated future
Engineering was newly introduced to the United States in the late 1700s. The jobs were minimal and fully educated men were few and far between. America had a shaky start in the engineering field, but the profession quickly picked up speed. From 2009 to 2013, engineering degrees grew twice as fast as other disciplines (Bidwell, “The number of STEM degrees earned in the last 5 years grew exceptionally”). Everything from the most basic principles of engineering and the minutiae of an engineer’s daily routine, to complexities such as payment and respect for the profession have changed drastically since the 1800s due to more people becoming open to the ideas of innovation and diversity in such an integral field. Engineers are the life-blood of
Georgetown University 's Center on Education and the Workforce estimates that by 2020, nearly two-thirds of all jobs will require some postsecondary education or training beyond a high school diploma. The premise of this article is that the traditional college prep curriculum at most high schools is not favoring a sizable percentage of American teenagers. Some people consider technical or vocational high schools a valid choice for students who choose not to pursue a customary educational path. Highlighted are two schools: Mercy Vocational High School in Philadelphia and David H. Ponitz Career Technology Center in Dayton, OH. There are interviews with students and educators who provide insight into the mindset of the types of students that these schools attract and it sheds light on the bias against technical education in the United States.
The process of becoming an engineer will have gigantic hurdles of stress and confusion. I plan to take advantage of student aid and academic scholarships to maximize my financial assets towards college. My underlying skills gained from my hobbies can push me through the difficulties of the college work load. My previous education gave me a prerequisite basis of what to expect during the next level of education. With a great amount of confidence, the journey towards my dream career of scientifically fixing the world will work out
Some of the employees have said that they cannot be successful with the new process because it requires more dexterity than they believe that they are capable of.
Background – Academic identity is an important concept for African American women engineering students as they persist towards degree completion. Improved understanding of how African American women engineering students construct their academic identities, may inform STEM education and educational policy reform.
The foundation for my interest in engineering was established when I began attending a STEM camp called Design Connect Create. The camp’s counselors introduced me to the industry of engineering and informed
This case is about Paul Reed, a vice president and supervisor at Magic Eye, who is trying to understand the reason his programmers in his firm, are not reaching their potential. For that matter, Paul sought Muriel Tremblay, who is responsible for the personal to discover the issue. Muriel then interviewed an employee named Jeannie Savaria who has worked for the company for over a year and discovered that there had been some lack of motivation from Paul. According to Robbins, S. P. & Judge, (184). Motivation is the process that accounts for an individual’s intensity, direction, and persistence of effort towards attaining a goal. In this paper, I will use the Vroom Expectancy Motivation Theory to explain Jeannine Savaria’s motivation and what can her supervisor do to improve her motivation.
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Let’s take a closer look at how motivation ties in with these intrinsic and extrinsic theories for motivation. It is clear that motivation is one of the most prominent driving forces by which humans pursue and ultimately achieve their goals. Motivation, quite simply, is rooted in the human instinct to minimize pain and maximize pleasure. The characteristics of such a basic theory would usually be about as clear cut as they come. However, motivation relies heavily on one’s personal psychology as well as specific situations. As noted before in the survey, it also has two very distinct and different sides to it, those being intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation.
It is important for everyone especially students to do well in school because it reflects in the foundation of their accomplishments in life. Students are affect their ability to move to the next level when they fail to complete some requirements. It takes many factors to motivate individuals to continue on striving for academic achievements. (Higgins, 2008) It is said that motivation gives big contribution in one individual’s success. Motivation is defined as the organized patterning of three psychological functions that serves to direct, energize, and regulate goal-oriented activity: personal goals, emotional arousal processes, and personal agency beliefs. It is an interactive construct representing the direction a person is going, the
The value hypothesis is a motivational model that endeavors to clarifies the relationship between what a worker puts into their employment; what they receive in return and the decency and equity that is traded between the two. The inputs incorporates all the elements that are seen as to get an arrival, for example, exertion, reliability, diligent work, responsibility, abilities, capacity, adaptability ,resistance, determination, heart, soul, energy and trust that the worker and individual consideration. The yield incorporate all the components that are seen as an arrival of the occupation, for example, money related prize, advantages, advantages, benefits plans, distinguishment, notoriety, commendation, premium obligation, travel,
This research will modifies and integrates the motivation model, self-determination theory (SDT) (Deci and Ryan, 1985) and technology acceptance model (TAM) (Davis, 1989). This research will find the impact of extrinsic and intrinsic motivational factors on trust. The report will determine whether the extrinsic motivational factors and/or intrinsic motivational factors increase or decrease trust to adopt internet banking. People who are living in low income and developing countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and India have to deal with many problems such as poverty, corruption and weak legal structure, all of these problems will lead to distrust in their lives. Similarly, the technology that deals with finance and money is going to be difficult to adopt by people who lives in low income countries due to lack of trust. Trust on internet banking system and security has to be developed in order for the people to adopt internet banking systems. Trust can be developed if the financial institutions works on extrinsic and intrinsic motivational factors which will ultimately helps the banking industry to gain trust of older customers of using and experiencing benefits of internet banking.
Before we begin university we have already dedicated ourselves to our major subject, that we already have an understanding for, which is a commitment for a minimum of four years. From an undergraduate’s perspective, this is an intimidating yet exciting step to adulthood as it is probably one of the longest commitments we have ever had to make that influences our future. For each and every one of us, the reasons for why we selected the subject that we did will vary. Personally, I chose to study Chemistry due to my enjoyment for the subject and the sense of achievement I gain from