The importance of motivation: How to make your students motivated

Abstract

In this project, we explore factors affecting students’ motivation during their time at university. Motivation comprises of two parts: intrinsic motivation and extrinsic motivation. While intrinsic motivation is exhibited when doing an activity for its inherent satisfaction, extrinsic motivation refers to doing an activity to attain an instrumental value. Here we investigate both types of motivation and the relative importance of each. We also conduct a survey to evaluate what are the motivation levels of students at Lund University. Lastly, we discuss and propose suggestions for university teachers to increase their students’ motivation.