Equity Teory
The equity theory really speaks to what drives a lot of people today. REWARD. Its almost like a little kid. If you tell them that they have to clean their room they may moan and groan yet if you tell them cleaning their room is a part of their allowance you will see them exert more effort into the process. I beleive the equity theory is still valid and relevant today especially amongst kids. What do you all think?
I do agree that rewards can encourage people. I don't think they need to be extravagant or frequent. Here's an example I use, if you hate your job, a small pay increase will motivate you. That motivation will not be long lasting, eventually you will go back to hating your job.
Student learning is the same. If a student is given a reward, the effects might last a day or even a week. If they are not intrinsically motivated, however, the effect ends there. You do not want to get into a situation where students are only doing things based on reward.
Tonya, not sure I understand your focus on kids here but adult learning theory also discuses motivation and incorporates a lot of relationship between input and outcomes. Adults need to understand their role and how their contribution impacts the success of their organization. Adults also need to relate what they learn to real world situations and tend to not react well to the abstract versus more practical application. The equity theory, actually called the Adam's Equity Theory is very similar to the five levels of needs as identified by Maslow and the two factors (intrinsic and extrinsic) of motivation by Herzberg. Together all of these theories focus on adults or at least adults were the subjects of these studies. I like to focus my students on discussions of intrinsic values and why these values tend to take an individual further along a path of true happiness and sense of success. We all have needs that must be met in order to feel good about ourselves but the more you can align your career with your intrinsic values the more successful an individual will become due to how they are continually motivated because they are doing the things they truly enjoy and not working for the attainment of material things.
James Jackson
