University of Helsinki
Faculty, Department: Faculty of Education, Department of Teacher Education
Author: Laakkonen, Kaisa Henriikka
Title:
Study motivation and situation motivation in an informal education: 11-year-old pupils at Heureka´s Open questions -exhibition.
Subject, Level, Month and Year, Number of pages
Education, M.A.Thesis, October 2003, 121 p. (35 app).
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to find out 5th graders experiences of studying in an informal learning environment, at Heureka, the Finnish Science Centre. The study was also aiming to find out what kind of impact a internet based prelesson before the actual visit to the science3 exhibition might have to this experience. The aim was also to find out different types of motivation of the pupils. The purpose was also to describe the qualitative differences of pupil´s situation motivation fifth-grade in an informal learning environment.
The subjects (N=135) of this study consisted of six comprehensive school classes the 5th graders in the greater Helsinki area. Four of the classes (N=101) did partidipate the advance-education, and two classes (N=34) did not. These two classes were the control classes for the motivation tests (Salmi 1993). The data was collected by using written questionnaires before and after the visit to the science centre and also by interviewing 16 pupils immediately after the visit.
The theory of motivation and its connection with learning were studied as a theoretical background of the study. In the motivation background the focus was in the self-determination theory by Deci & Ryan (1985, 2000). In addition, the background of scinece centre education was clarified.
The results showed that there were statistically significant (.05) differences between boys and girls in their motivation in school. Girls´motivation in school is more intrinsic whereas the boys´motivation is more extrinsic. The results showed that boys are more dependent on rewards and they are not ready to put as much effort to the working at school as the girls. The results showed also the fact that boys do not feel that they dcan have an effect in the school work and they also feel going to school more like a must than girls. Boys haad also worse satisvaction for school overall than girls.
Finally the results confirm the fact that studying in a scinece centre is a very positive and motivating for the 5th grade pupils. The results of the sutation motivation test confirmed also that the classes attending the pre-internet-lesson had much stronger situation motivation in the scinece-centre visit thant he control-classes.
Key words:
Intrinsic and esxtrinsic motivation, informal learning environment, science centre, situation motivation.
Where deposited:
The Library of the Faculty of Education (also available at Heureka, the Finnish Science Centre)
