WIIFM?

A response to the WIIFM Activity
created May 15, 2021 by Fergal O’Hagan (@fergalohagan)

Number of views: 256

I am giving some structure to this activity by applying Ryan and Deci’s Self-Determination model. It posits that motivation lies along a continuum from amotivation, or not being motivated toward a behaviour to intrinsic motivation, where we are motivated toward a behaviour entirely by the joy and harmony it brings.  In between, we have various forms of extrinsic motivation. External motivation is generated by principles of reinforcement and punishment in the environment.  Introjected motivation is based on internalized feelings of guilt or shame. Identified motivation is generated from our sense of self and what we identify with (e.g., roles).  Integrated motivation is the closest to intrinsic motivation, where we are motivated toward a behaviour because it fits with our values.  We may not enjoy it, but it’s the right thing to do.   As applied to the student perspective…

• Amotivation – “This assignment has no interest or value and doesn’t get me anything.”
• External – “I really need a B+ so I can do my thesis and get into the nursing program.”
• Introjected – “I better knuckle down and work on this course or my parents will be really disappointed.”
• Identified – “I’m at least as good as Joe at Behaviour Modification, so I should work hard to beat him.”
• Integrated – “I loved doing the work in that course because, although it was hard, I valued working with my teammates and developing and mastering skills that I know will serve me well in life.”
• Intrinsic – “There’s something weird about doing those problem sets in statistics.  I get totally absorbed in the problem.  When I get through it, I get this gratifying buzz.”

Of course, you could come up with many other examples. Maybe this wasn’t freeform brainstorming, but I like SDT because it gives a framework for understanding motivation that transports from one activity to another.

Example for "WIIFM?":
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