Browsing by Subject "expectancy-value theory"

Aims: The aim of this study was to examine the task value -based motivational profiles identified from the sixth graders concerning the following subjects Science, Finnish and Mathematics sub-jects. Expectancy-value theory was used as a theoretical framework. Cost, intrinsic value, and self-concept of ability were used to compose the profiles. Profiles were examined regarding gender distribution and STEM aspirations. The study answers three research questions: 1) What kind of latent profiles can be identified among sixth grader students concerning their Mathematics, Finnish language and Science motivation (e.g., intrinsic value, cost, and self-concept of ability?) 2) Do the task value profiles differ in terms of gender? 3) How are STEM aspiration and students’ grades associated with the tasks value profiles? Methods: The data was collected from 356 sixth graders with a questionnaire. Latent profile analysis was used to answer the first research question. Second and third research question were answered with One-way Anova. Results and conclusions: Four different profiles were identified: High-cost low motivation (14%), Low-cost high Mathematics motivation (34%), Average-cost high Mathematics motivation (19%) and Low-cost low intrinsic (34%). The High-cost low motivation group reported the overall high-est cost and lowest intrinsic values. The Low-cost high Mathematics motivation group had the overall lowest cost and highest intrinsic and self-concept of ability values. The Average-cost high Mathematics motivation group experienced cost quite averagely in every subject but had high intrinsic and self-concept of ability values in Mathematics. The Low-cost low intrinsic group had overall low cost but only average intrinsic in Science and low in Finnish and Mathematics. Surprisingly, no differences were found according to gender, STEM aspirations, or grades. These results indicate that there are different motivational profiles which do not differ in terms of gender or aspiration at this age.