Student Motivation & Engagement Flashcards
6 cards from real GED practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Student Motivation & Engagement flashcards as text
According to self-determination theory, which three basic psychological needs drive intrinsic motivation?
Answer: Autonomy, competence, and relatedness
Self-determination theory (Deci and Ryan) identifies autonomy (sense of control), competence (sense of effectiveness), and relatedness (sense of belonging) as the three basic needs driving intrinsic motivation.
Which of the following is an example of an extrinsic motivator?
Answer: A student completes homework to earn extra credit points
Extrinsic motivation comes from external rewards or punishments — completing homework for extra credit is driven by an external outcome rather than genuine interest in the work itself.
Carol Dweck's growth mindset research shows that students who believe intelligence is fixed tend to:
Answer: View effort as pointless when compared to natural talent
Students with a fixed mindset believe intelligence is a static trait — effort feels futile, failure feels threatening to their identity, and they avoid challenges that risk exposing their perceived limitations.
The concept of 'flow,' described by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, refers to:
Answer: A state of complete absorption and enjoyment in a challenging task that matches one's skill level
Flow is an optimal psychological state of complete engagement in a task that is challenging enough to require full skill — too easy causes boredom, too hard causes anxiety, but the match point creates flow.
Which classroom practice BEST supports student engagement according to research?
Answer: Meaningful, relevant tasks with student choice and collaborative elements
Research consistently shows that student engagement is highest when tasks are meaningful, personally relevant, include choice, and involve collaboration — connecting learning to real-world purpose and student voice.
Attribution theory in education examines how students explain their academic successes and failures. Which attribution is most associated with sustained academic motivation?
Answer: Attributing outcomes to effort and strategy — factors within one's control
When students attribute outcomes to controllable, internal factors like effort and strategy, they maintain a sense of agency — they believe working harder or smarter can change their results.