Study Advice Service Motivation

What it is and how to sustain it

Author: Phil Farrar

What is motivation?
Motivation is a pre-requisite for all human action and there are a number of theories which attempt to define it. Often it is a question of necessity. For example, the principal reason we are motivated to learn our native language is that we could not survive socially or even physically without some form of verbal communication. So, we sometimes learn because we have to. Gardner and Lambert suggested that there are two basic types of motivation, integrative and instrumental. The first implies a willingness to learn for its own sake, because the topic is interesting in itself; the second implies that study is undertaken out of a desire to reach a goal, perhaps go into a particular career or because a given qualification is required before some other desirable goal can be attained. So, some people may decide to learn Japanese either because they need the basics of the language for their companys trade with that country or because they need it to gain promotion (instrumental); alternatively, they may simply like the language and wish to assimilate themselves into Japanese life and culture (integrative). In other words, motivation is either internal or external; you can either be self-motivated, where the drive to do something comes from within, or be motivated by others or by circumstances outside your control. The better kind of motivation is usually the former, (intrinsic), since you are doing something because you want to, not merely because you are obliged to. In these circumstances, you complete tasks because of an inner drive to do so, which is more continuous and does not rely on anyone else for stimulation. You are in Higher Education because you want to be and because your area of study is the one you have chosen. In theory then, you already have the right kind of motivation (integrative). It is perfectly natural that you may not always be able to maintain such strong motivation and there may be dips in your enthusiasm at various times as you meet different challenges. We all have off-days or periods when we find it hard to fulfil our good intentions! The main difficulty, then, is not having motivation in the first place, but in maintaining it. So lets consider those things which may affect this and what you can do about it.

Web: www.hull.ac.uk/studyadvice Email: studyadvice@hull.ac.uk Tel: 01482 466199

Factors adversely affecting motivation

S ym p tom Temptation towards other activities; putting it off. This happens to us all and it usually revolves around the choice of more pleasant options or the satisfaction of more immediate rewards (going out with friends is easier than working alone). Procrastination. Perhaps you have a writing block and keep putting off doing your essay or assignment or writing the next chapter of your dissertation or thesis. This is a delaying tactic and is often a symptom of temptation (above). It works sometimes but places events in the wrong order the reward should come after the task! P os s i ble c opi ng or re me dia l s tra teg y

Establish a routine, perhaps studying at the same times each week, so that making regular progress becomes automatic rather than spasmodic. Your routine can be flexible, if you are ill for example, but dont allow an interruption to put an end to your routine. Often, the hardest part of a task is starting it: the longer you delay a course of action the harder it becomes to start. A settling down ritual often helps (setting books out, making coffee ). Once you have begun, however, you will find making progress becomes much easier, as long as you have planned your way forward. Remind yourself again about your long-term goals. As Chairman Mao once said, The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. Network! Find other Postgraduate or Research students on campus, perhaps via the Graduate School, with whom you can communicate. Arrange to meet them over a coffee - students of different disciplines often have similar concerns and other peoples ways of resolving difficulties may often be useful to you too. Full details of the Graduate School at the University can be found at www.hull.ac.uk/gri/index.html Use e-mail or telephone to make contact with other students. Form a study group and fix a regular time and day to have face-to-face meetings. It is important to look after yourself and your health. Burn-out can account for lost motivation and taking on too much, not eating properly and not getting enough sleep will all have a part to play. Build leisure time into your study plan. Paradoxically, some physical exercise combats a feeling of tiredness and clears your head but dont exercise so much that you have no energy left for your work. Be conscious of your body rhythms and work patterns and decide in which part of the day you are at your best. These are the times you should reserve for study. Tell your family or friends about these.

Solitary working environment. You may not be sure how you are progressing and would like more feedback. This last point may be particularly true at postgraduate level when you are likely to be working alone for long periods at your research or dissertation and do not have the regular stimulus of handing in essays and projects and receiving regular comment and encouragement. If you are studying at a postgraduate level there may be a lack of fellow students or researchers with whom you can discuss or share your ideas. A concern not shared can grow out of all proportion.

Lethargy. You may feel from time to time that you do not have the energy to work.

S ym p tom This is going to be difficult. I dont think I understand this.

P os s i ble c opi ng or re me dia l s tra teg y It will be difficult if you tell yourself so! Once understood, you will wonder why you found it so difficult in the first place. If you do not completely understand something, dont be afraid to go back to basics - talk it over with others or with a tutor. Remind yourself why you are here and of your end-goal. Having a goal to work towards is perhaps the greatest motivator of all. Turn your long-term goal into a series of short-term ones, thus giving yourself specific, easier targets to achieve, step by step. Make a list of things to be done in order of priority (according to deadlines or importance) and, as each task is completed, give yourself the satisfaction of crossing or ticking things off as they are completed. If you have a problem not connected with your academic work - perhaps money or a relationship - try to do something about it. There are numerous support services on campus to assist you. Go to the main University web-site www.hull.ac.uk, click on Departments and Services on the left hand side, then Services and Student Support. You could also share any worries with friends or with people who care about you. Often verbalising worries makes them seem smaller and a heart-to-heart with a sympathetic but objective person can be enormously helpful.

Ive too much to do Lack of a sense of direction or purpose.

Something else on your mind.

You reach a less interesting part of your studies. You may find some parts of your course less interesting than others or more difficult than you expected and find that you do not want to do your work either because you are bored with a particular aspect or are not confident about what you are doing. Ill never do all that! Expectation overload, leading to panic and (partial) shutdown.

Dont be too hard on yourself. It is normal that sometimes you will make slower progress. Be patient and accept that a consistent rate of progress is not always possible. Most things develop in fits and starts over time. Do only a little at a time, taking more breaks than you would normally. You can do it if you break it up into manageable chunks well before the relevant deadlines. Completing tasks in stages is much less onerous and demanding than trying to do them all in one go. It also contributes to better quality since it allows time for reflection on each part that you write. Write down these stages and put them on the wall, fridge door or in your diary. You dont have a diary? Buy one! We all need routines but we also need change - the two are not incompatible. Use the diary to plan the coming week or month. A wall planner is also a good idea - its more conspicuous.

S ym p tom Im not as good as others on this course.

P os s i ble c opi ng or re me dia l s tra teg y It is better to compete with yourself than with others. Be concerned only with your own previous performance, not with that of fellow students. If you are making progress, isnt that all that really matters? Your confidence will grow as you progress through the course. Being too perfectionist can be de-motivating. Dont regard a setback as a failure but remember what you have achieved and give yourself a pat on the back. Promise yourself a reward after completing each piece of work. Making mistakes is often a natural part of the learning process. Sports people ought to learn more from a loss than from a win!

I dont think Im doing as well as I should.

Further reading Carter, Bishop & Kravis (1998) Keys to Success: how to achieve your goals. Prentice-Hall, New Jersey Elphinstone & Schweitzer (1998) How to get a Research Degree: a survival guide. Allen & Unwin, London (Ch. 1, 4 & 5) Evans (1995) How to Write a Better Thesis or Report. Melbourne University Press, Melbourne (Ch. 2) Gardner & Lam bert (1972) Attitudes and Motivation in Second Language Learning. Newbury House, Rowley (Mass.) Maslow (1954) Motivation and Personality. Harper & Rowe, New York

All web addresses in this leaflet were correct at the time of publication.

The information in this leaflet can be made available in an alternative format on request. Telephone 01482 466199.

10/2007 4