The Role of Perceived Quality of Problems in the Association Between Achievement Goals and Motivation in Problem-based Learning

Main Article Content

Gera Noordzij
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6213-2066
Lisette Wijnia
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7395-839X

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of perceived problem quality in the relationship between students’ (N = 226) achievement goals and autonomous motivation to study in a problem-based learning (PBL) environment. Specifically, the relationships between students’ achievement goals (mastery-approach, performance-approach, performance-avoidance, and mastery-avoidance goals), problem quality-related characteristics (triggering interest, familiarity, stimulating collaborative learning, resulting in intended learning objectives, and promoting critical reasoning) and autonomous motivation to study were investigated. The findings indicate that the perceived quality of problems (i.e., familiarity, resulting in intended learning objectives, promoting critical reasoning, and by that triggering interest) fosters autonomous motivation to study and that the perception of this quality is influenced by students’ achievement goals. Therefore, the quality of problems and students’ achievement goals should be taken into account in a PBL environment.

Article Details

Section
Research Articles
Author Biographies

Gera Noordzij, Erasmus University College

Gera Noordzij is assistant professor at Erasmus University (Rotterdam, the Netherlands) and head of department of social and behavioral science at Erasmus University College (Rotterdam, the Netherlands). Her research interests include student motivation, problem-based learning and other small-scale student-centered learning approaches. 

Lisette Wijnia, HZ University of Applied Sciences & Erasmus University College

Lisette Wijnia is professor of applied sciences at HZ University of Applied Sciences (Vlissingen, the Netherlands) and senior lecturer at Erasmus University College (Rotterdam, the Netherlands). Her research interests include problem-based learning, teacher–student relationships, and student motivation.