Motivating Grade 12 learners at a quintile 3 secondary school in South Africa
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17159/0mfc9262Keywords:
extrinsic motivation, intrinsic motivation, motivation to learn, self-actualisation, self-determinationAbstract
This study identifies factors that motivated Grade 12 learners at a quintile 3 secondary school in post-apartheid South Africa. A phenomenological qualitative approach was adopted. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from Grade 12 learners. Human Motivation theory and Self-determination theory were synthesised to form an underpinning theoretical structure. The results of the research study identified various factors that motivated Grade 12 learners: parental involvement, affirmation, and enjoyment of subjects. Knowing about such factors and applying motivational interventions at schools in poor areas affirms learners and empowers them to escape destitution, despair, cycles of illiteracy and poverty, and the bonds of a racist past. Teachers and parents should be cognisant of such important factors. School communities, particularly those in economically challenged areas, need to be made aware of the value of such motivating factors.
References
Awan, R., Noureen, G. & Naz, A. (2011) A Study of Relationship between Achievement Motivation, Self concept and Achievement in English and Mathematics at Secondary level. International Education Studies 4(3) pp.72-78.
Bakar, R. (2014) The effect of learning motivation on student’s productive competencies in vocational high school, West Sumatra. International Journal of Asian Social Science 4(6) pp.722-732.
Bannatyne, A. (2003) Student characteristics. http://www.bannatynereadingprogram.com/BP13CHAR. htm (Accessed 07 July 2015).
Bezuidenhout, R. & Cronje, F. (2014) Qualitative data analysis. In F. Du Plooy-Cilliers, C. Davis & R. Bezuidenhout (Eds.) Research matters. Cape Town: Juta.
Creswell, J.W. (2013) Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches. 3rd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Davids, R. (2010) Practices which contribute towards grade 6 learners’ reading motivation (Unpublished master's dissertation). Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Mowbray, South Africa.
Deci, E.L. & Ryan, R.M. (1985) Intrinsic motivation and self-determination in human behavior. New York: Plenum.
Deci, E.L. & Ryan, R. M. (2008) Self-Determination Theory: A Macrotheory of Human Motivation, Development, and Health. Canadian Psychology 49(3) pp.182-185.
Deci, E.L., Olafsen, A.H. & Ryan, R.M. (2017) Self-determination theory in work organizations: The state of a science. Annual Review of Organizational Psychology and Organizational Behavior 4(1) pp.19-43.
Deci, E.L., Vallerand, R.J., Pelletier, L.G. & Ryan, R.M. (1991) Motivation and Education: The Self-Determination Perspective. Educational Psychologist 26(3 & 4) pp.325-346.
Department of Basic Education. (2017) The 2017 National Senior Certificate Schools Performance Report. Pretoria: Government Printer.
Dos Reis, K.M. (2007) The influence of gangsterism on the morale of educators on the Cape Flats, Western Cape (Unpublished master's dissertation). Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa.
Ford, V.B. & Roby, D.E. (2013) Why do high school students lack motivation in the classroom? Global Education Journal 2013(2) pp.101-113.
Gagné, M. & Deci, E.L. (2005) Self-determination theory and work motivation. Journal of Organizational Behavior 26 pp.331-362.
Gbollie, C. & Keamu, H.P. (2017) Student Academic Performance: The Role of Motivation, Strategies, and Perceived Factors Hindering Liberian Junior and Senior High School Students Learning. Education Research International 2017 pp.1-11.
Grant, D. (2013) Background to the national quintile system. http://wced.pgwc.gov.za/comms/press/2013/74_14oct.html (Accessed 7 September 2016).
Gunawan J. (2015) Ensuring Trustworthiness in Qualitative Research. Belitung Nursing Journal 1(1) pp.10-11.
Hall, K. & Giese, S. (2008) Addressing quality through school fees and school funding. In S. Pendlebury, L. Lake, & C. Smith (Eds.) South African child gauge 2008/2009 pp.35-40. Cape Town: Children’s Institute, UCT.
Hagger, M.S., Hardcastle, S.J., Chater, A., Mallett, C., Pal, S. & Chatzisarantis, N.L.D. (2014) Autonomous and controlled motivational regulations for multiple health-related behaviors: between- and within-participants analyses. Health Psychology & Behavioural Medicine 2(1) pp.565-601.
Horgan, G. (2007) The Impact of Poverty on Young Children’s Experience of School, York: Joseph Rowntree Foundation.
Howard, J., Gagné, M., Morin, A.J. & Van den Broeck, A. (2016) Motivation profiles at work: A self-determination theory approach. Journal of Vocational Behavior 95 pp.74-89.
Igwe, I.O. (2017) Influence of socio-economic status of parents’ income and motivation on the academic achievement of chemistry students. International Journal of Current Research 9(4) pp.49627-49633.
Klatte, M., Bergström, K. & Lachmann, T. (2013) Does noise affect learning? A short review of noise effects on cognitive performance. Frontiers in psychology 4(578) pp.1-6, doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00578
Koonin, M. (2014) Validity and Reliability. In F. Du Plooy-Cilliers, C. Davis & R. Bezuidenhout (Eds.) Research matters. Cape Town: Juta.
Legault, L., Green-Demers, I. & Pelletier, L. (2006) Why do high school students lack motivation in the classroom? Toward an understanding of academic amotivation and the role of social support. Journal of Educational Psychology 98(3) pp.567–582.
Legault, L. (2017) Self-determination theory. In V. Zeigler-Hill & T.K. Shackelford (Eds.) Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences pp.1-9. New York: Springer.
Maslow, A.H. (1943) A theory of human motivation. Psychological Review 50(4) pp.370-396.
Maslow, A.H. (1954) Motivation and Personality. (3rd ed.) New York: Harper & Row.
Maslow, A.H. (1970) Motivation and Personality. (2nd ed.) New York: Harper & Row.
Mohajan, H.K. (2018) Qualitative research methodology in social sciences and related subjects. Journal of Economic Development, Environment and People 7(1) pp.23-48.
Munje, P. & Jita, L. (2019) The implementation of the school feeding scheme (SFS) in South African Public primary schools. Educational Practice and Theory 41(2) pp.25-42.
Nel, W.N. (2000) Faktore wat verband hou met die leermotivering en leerhouding van leerders in sekondêre skole in die Upington omgewing. (Unpublished master's dissertation). University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa.
Niemiec, C.P. & Ryan, R.M. (2009) Autonomy, competence, and relatedness in the classroom: Applying self-determination theory to educational practice. Theory and Research in Education 7(2) pp.133–144.
Ormrod, J.E. (2008) Educational psychology: Developing learners. 6th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
Pascoe, G. (2014) Sampling. In F. Du Plooy-Cilliers, C. Davis & R. Bezuidenhout (Eds.) Research matters. Cape Town: Juta.
Pitney, W.A. (2004) Strategies for Establishing Trustworthiness in Qualitative Research. Athletic Therapy Today 9(1) pp.26-28, January.
Rastegar, M., Akbarzadeh, M. & Heidari, N. (2012) The Darker Side of Motivation: Demotivation and Its Relation with Two Variables of Anxiety among Iranian EFL Learners. International Scholarly Research Network 2012 pp.1-8.
Rehman, A. & Haider, K. (2013) The impact of motivation on learning of secondary school students in Karachi: An analytical study. Educational Research International 2(2) pp.139-147.
Ryan, R.M. & Deci, E.L. (2000) Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivations: Classic Definitions and New Directions. Contemporary Educational Psychology 25 pp.54-67.
Schukajlow, S. & Krug, A. (2014) Are interest and enjoyment important for students’ performance? In C. Nicol, S. Oesterle, P. Liljedahl & D. Allan (Eds.) Proceedings of the Joint Meeting of PME 38 and PME-NA 36. 5th ed. Vancouver, Canada: PME.
Shenton, A.K. (2004) Strategies for ensuring trustworthiness in qualitative research projects. Education for Information 22 pp.63-75. January 6.
Singh, K. (2011) Study of Achievement Motivation in Relation to Academic Achievement of Students. International Journal of Educational Planning & Administration 1(2) pp.161-171.
Usher, A. & Kober, N. (2012) Student Motivation - An Overlooked Piece of School Reform. Center on Education Policy. Washington: The George Washington University.
Wang, Y. (2007) On the cognitive processes of human perception with emotions, motivations, and attitudes. International Journal of Cognitive Informatics and Natural Intelligence 1(4) pp.1-13.
World Food Program. (2013) State of School Feeding Worldwide. https://www.hst.org.za/publications/NonHST%20Publications/wfp257481.pdf (Accessed 01 February 2021).
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2022 The Independent Journal of Teaching and Learning
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
.png){kind=spacer}