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Background: Common to most theory-based intervention approaches is the idea of supporting intentions to increase the probability of behavior change. This principle works only if (a) intentions can be explained by the hypothesized socio-cognitive constructs, and (b) people actually do what they intend to do. The overall aim of this thesis was to test these premises using two health behavior theories applied to reducing at-risk alcohol use. Method: The three papers underlying this thesis were based on data of the randomized controlled “Trial Of Proactive Alcohol interventions among job-Seekers” (TOPAS). A total of 1243 job-seekers with at-risk alcohol use were randomized to stage tailored intervention (ST), non-stage tailored intervention (NST), or control group. The ST participants (n = 426) were analyzed in paper 1. Paper 2 was based on the baseline and 3-month data provided by the NST participants (n = 433). Paper 3 was based on baseline, 3-, 6-, and 15-month data provided by the control and ST group not intending to change alcohol use (n = 629). Latent variable modeling was used to investigate the associations of social-cognitive constructs and intentional stages (paper 1), the extent to which intentions were translated into alcohol use (paper 2), and the different trajectories of alcohol use among people not intending to change as well as the ST effect on the trajectories (paper 3). Results: Persons in different intentional stages differed in the processes of change in which they engaged, in the importance placed by them on the pros and cons of alcohol use, and in the perceived ability to quit (ps < 0.01). The association between intentions and alcohol use was weak. The magnitude of this intention-behavior gap depended on the extent to which normative expectations have changed over time (p < 0.01) and was reduced when controlling for the mediating effect of temporal stability of intentions. The gap was also present among people not intending to change: Even without intervention, 35% of the persons reduced the amount of alcohol use after 15 months (p < 0.05) and 2% achieved abstinence. Persons with heavier drinking (33%) and persons with low but frequent use (30%) did not change. Persons with frequent alcohol use seem to benefit less from ST than those with occasional use, although differences were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Intentions can be quite well explained by the hypothesized socio-cognitive constructs. In a sample of persons who were, as a whole, little motivated to change, the precision of how well intentions predict subsequent alcohol use was modest though. Time and socio-contextual influences should be considered.
This multi-methodological study applied functional magnetic resonance imaging to investigate neural activation in a group of adolescent students (N = 88) during a probabilistic reinforcement learning task. We related patterns of emerging brain activity and individual learning rates to socio-motivational (in-)dependence manifested in four different motivation types (MTs): (1) peer-dependent MT, (2) teacher-dependent MT, (3) peer-and-teacher-dependent MT, (4) peer-and-teacher-independent MT. A multinomial regression analysis revealed that the individual learning rate predicts students’ membership to the independent MT, or the peer-and-teacher-dependent MT. Additionally, the striatum, a brain region associated with behavioral adaptation and flexibility, showed increased learning-related activation in students with motivational independence. Moreover, the prefrontal cortex, which is involved in behavioral control, was more active in students of the peer-and-teacher-dependent MT. Overall, this study offers new insights into the interplay of motivation and learning with (1) a focus on inter-individual differences in the role of peers and teachers as source of students’ individual motivation and (2) its potential neurobiological basis.
Longitudinal Effects of Student-Perceived Classroom Support on Motivation – A Latent Change Model
(2017)
This two-wave longitudinal study examined how developmental changes in students’ mastery goal orientation, academic effort, and intrinsic motivation were predicted by student-perceived support of motivational support (support for autonomy, competence, and relatedness) in secondary classrooms. The study extends previous knowledge that showed that support for motivational support in class is related to students’ intrinsic motivation as it focused on the developmental changes of a set of different motivational variables and the relations of these changes to student-perceived motivational support in class. Thus, differential classroom effects on students’ motivational development were investigated. A sample of 1088 German students was assessed in the beginning of the school year when students were in grade 8 (Mean age = 13.70, SD = 0.53, 54% girls) and again at the end of the next school year when students were in grade 9. Results of latent change models showed a tendency toward decline in mastery goal orientation and a significant decrease in academic effort from grade 8 to 9. Intrinsic motivation did not decrease significantly across time. Student-perceived support of competence in class predicted the level and change in students’ academic effort. The findings emphasized that it is beneficial to create classroom learning environments that enhance students’ perceptions of competence in class when aiming to enhance students’ academic effort in secondary school classrooms.
Die vorliegende Arbeit untersucht eine individualisierte und schülerzentrierte Lernumgebung auf der Basis von Kompetenzrastern und vergleicht diese mit einem konventionellen lehrergeführten Unterricht. Der erste Teil der vorliegenden Dissertation beschreibt die Entwicklung der Lernumgebung und skizziert die theoretischen Hintergründe der motivationalen Entwicklung von Schüler*innen. Anschließend vergleichen drei Studien beide Lernumgebungen hinsichtlich der motivationalen Variablen und des Zusammenspiels dieser, um einerseits beide Lernumgebung zu evaluieren und andererseits Prädiktoren von Motivation und Lernverhalten zu untersuchen. Alle drei Studien basieren auf einer Stichprobe von 1,153 Schülerinnen und Schülern im Alter von 12 bis 18 Jahren (M = 13.97, SD = 1.37, 49% Mädchen).
Studie 1 untersucht, ob wahrgenommene Autonomie die Beziehung von Selbstwirksamkeit einerseits und der Lernstrategienutzung anderseits mediiert. Latente Mittelwertsvergleiche und Mehrgruppen-Mehrebenen-Strukturgleichungsmodelle wurden durchgeführt um die Hypothesen zu untersuchen. Die Ergebnisse legen nahe, dass wahrgenommene Autonomieunterstützung die Beziehung zwischen Selbstwirksamkeit und Lernstrategien mediiert, allerdings ausschließlich für Schülerinnen und Schüler in der schülerzentrierten Lernumgebung auf der Basis von Kompetenzrastern.
Studie 2 untersucht, ob Kompetenzunterstützung die Beziehung vom akademischen Selbstkonzept und der Leistungsmotivation unterschiedlich für Schülerinnen und Schüler aus einer lehrergeführten und einer schülerzentrierten Lernumgebung auf der Basis von Kompetenzrastern mediiert. Latente Mittelwertsvergleiche und Mehrgruppen-Strukturgleichungsmodelle wurden konzipiert, um die Hypothesen zu untersuchen. Die Mehrgruppen-Strukturgleichungsmodelle zeigen, dass Kompetenzunterstützung ausschließlich in der schülerzentrierten Lernumgebung auf der Basis von Kompetenzrastern die Beziehung vom akademischen Selbstkonzept und der Leistungsmotivation mediiert, vor allem für Schülerinnen und Schüler in der frühen Adoleszenz.
Studie 3 untersucht den reziproken Zusammenhang zwischen Leistungsemotionenn und selbstbestimmter Motivation. Latente Mittelwertsvergleiche und autoregressive cross-lagged Panel Analysen wurden durchgeführt, um die Hypothesen zu untersuchen. Reziproke Beziehungenn wurden nicht nachgewiesen. Allerdings konnte aufgezeigt werden, dass ausschließlich in der schülerzentrierten Lernumgebung auf der Basis von Kompetenzrastern positive Leistungsemotionen (i.e., Lernfreude) selbstbestimmte Formen der Motivation vorhersagen.
Die vorliegende Arbeit wird abgeschlossen durch eine Zusammenfassung der Ergebnisse, praktische Implikationen für die Schulpraxis, sowie durch ein Limitationskapitel.
Abstract
Introduction
Using the situated expectancy–value theory, it becomes possible to explain motivational functioning across alternating learning conditions not only at a particular moment but also over time. The situated expectancy–value theory provides evidence for the critical role of context. The present research examines how adolescents' success expectancies, task values, and effort develop when the conditions of the academic environment change. It also evaluates whether adolescents adopt more adaptive expectancy–value profiles in response to the need‐based nature of self‐directed learning as an extension of regular instruction. Within the self‐directed learning approach under investigation, adolescents take responsibility for their own learning processes.
Methods
The present research offers insights into the expectancy–value profiles of 754 German adolescents (Mage = 13.56; SD = 1.2; 49.4% female). A four‐wave study was used to examine perceptions of self‐efficacy, intrinsic value, utility value, and effort. Latent profile analyses and latent transition analyses were employed.
Results
Notably, the results provide evidence that expanding instruction via self‐directed learning intervals that occur for 1 week per semester contributes to more favorable expectancy–value profiles within a student's favorite subject. A mixed profile (highly confident, hardly interested) disappeared. Instead, success expectations aligned more closely with adolescents' task values and effort. All profiles settled at a higher level.
Conclusions
The findings indicate that instruction that is expanded via self‐directed learning intervals has positive consequences for motivational profiles over time. An initial self‐directed learning episode led to a shift to more interested profile groups. The continuation of a positive trend even after a self‐directed learning interval indicates that adolescents are able to continually adapt their learning to their needs during teacher‐directed instruction. This study provides clues about how to design curricula in a way that counteracts the downward trend in students' motivation to learn.