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The Intrinsic Motivation for High and Low Ability Readers’ Reading Comprehension Performance

Presenter: Chia- Hsiu Eunice LaiInstructor: Dr. Pi- Ying Teresa Hsu

Date: June 8th, 2011

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CONTENTS

Introduction

Literature Review

Methodology

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Introduction

Background

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Background

Reading motivation appears to be a core predictor of reading performance.

(Guthrie, 2007; Taboada, Tonks, Wigfield, & Guthrie, 2009)

Reading Performance

motivation

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Background

topics

processes

outcomes

Guthrie & Wigfield, 2000

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Background There has been interest in the importance of learners'

motivation, and how it may affect reading comprehension performance and growth in reading comprehension skill.

(Baker & Wigfield, 1999; Gottfried, 1990; Taboada, Tonks, Wigfield, & Guthrie, 2009; Wang & Guthrie, 2004)

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Literature Review1.Intrinsic Motivation2.Purposes of the

study3.Research Questions

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Intrinsic motivation

Intrinsic motivation means that the student wants to complete the task because they are interested on their own.

(Guthrie & Solomon, 1997)

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Readers with intrinsic motivation as possessing task involved goals, meaning these individuals focus on mastering tasks and increasing competence for different tasks.

(Wigfield & Guthrie, 2004)

Intrinsic motivation

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Hinders intrinsic motivation in students is their previous performance, specifically their failures.

(Guthrie & Solomon, 1997)

Intrinsic motivation

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Purposes of the study

1. To investigate how cognitive and motivational factors predict reading skill

2. To explore whether intrinsic reading motivation will explain significantly more variance in low ability readers reading performance

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Research Questions

1. Do college students feel that intrinsic motivation influence their reading performance?

2. What is the relationship between intrinsic motivation and readers’ cognitive abilities?

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Methodology1. Participants2. Procedure3. Instrument4. Statistical Analysis

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Participants

100 English-major first-year

college students

High ability readers

(midterm/final)

Low ability readers(midterm/final)

Select samples from the top and the bottom 25% to 33%

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Procedure

Pilot Study Formal Study Statistical Analysis

30 English-major first-year college students

100 English-major first-year college students

Questionnaire Questionnaire

Time: Oct, 2011 Time: Dec, 2011

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Instrument

InstrumentIntrinsic reading motivation (α= .75)

Challenge(5 items)

Curiosity (5 items)

Involvement(5 items)

(Wigfield & Guthrie, 1997; Wang & Guthrie, 2004)

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Example of Questionnaire

Intrinsic Reading Motivation

1. If a book is interesting, I don't care how difficult it is to read.2. I like it when the teacher gives us a difficult book to read.3. I usually learn difficult things by reading.

1 2 3 4

Disagree a lot Disagree a little Agree a little Agree a lot

4 point Likert scale

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Statistical Analysis

Do college students feel that intrinsic motivation influence their reading performance?

T-test

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Statistical Analysis

What is the relationship between intrinsic motivation and readers’ cognitive abilities?

Hierarchical regression analysis

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Thanks for your listening!

Q & A