Effect of Rewards and Motivation on Student Achievement

Question: Discuss about the Effect of Rewards and Motivation on Student Achievement. Answer: Introduction: Study attitude in students is the feeling that the students have towards their academic learning in school. The feeling is reflected regarding the students behaviour. Students with positive study attitude exercise behaviours that are likely to promote their academic performance (Burns, 1984, p. 23). Such students take a lot of time reading their books. They spend a lot of their time in the library reading. Besides, the students are close to their teacher whom they frequently consult on matters of education. On the other hand with negative study attitude are likely to keep away from academic matters. Such students would exercise behaviours such as failure to do class assignments among others (Cooper, 2002, p. 6). To investigate the issue of student study attitude within the college, I will seek for the readily available information. After that, I would carry out other further investigation research. There are suggestion boxes within the college. There are those assigned to students and others for the college staff. Students and staff are always encouraged to raise issues of concern by writing notes and then placing in the suggestion boxes (Artino Jr, 2005, p. 56). I would go through notes that have been written and placed in the suggestion boxes. Feedback from students and staff can provide a glimpse of information regarding student study attitude. Another source of information that would be visited is student performance records. Student study attitude is closely related to students performance. If students study attitude is low, then their performance is likely to drop as well (Naglieri Bornstein, 2003, pp. 244-255). The comparison would be made between the students past academic results and recent academic results. If there is a popping trend in academic performance of the students, then that would be evidence of negative study attitude. A positive trend in academic performance would show that there is a positive student study attitude. However, a relatively constant academic performance would be evidence that there is no study attitude change among the students in the College (Great Britain: Department for Education, 2010, p. 15). Verification of information It is important to search for other evidence that is likely to provide information regarding the students study attitude. The further evidence can be used to verify the information that would have already been collected. Teachers can tell the attitude of the students whom they teach. I will, therefore, interview all the college teachers to establish if they have identified any strange behaviour among their students (Burns, 1984, p. 114). I would also ask the teachers to elaborate on the behaviours if any. If many teachers provide similar response and it also happens that the response is similar to some results of the earlier investigation, then I would assume that they are correct. However, if the teacher response contradicts other investigation results, then other further investigations would need to be carried out. Students study attitude can also be investigated directly by involving students in some minor interviews to establish their feelings and knowledge. I would ask the college students whether they were enjoying their studies in the institution or not. I would also ask them about the kind of studies that they have had in the last few days (Ellis Tod, 2014, p. 93). If many students respond that they have been enjoying their studies and they have also involved themselves in a series of academic programs, then that would be an evidence of positive study attitude. However, if many students dont show interest in studies, then I would assume that they have a negative attitude in studies presence of supportive evidence that such students have also not participated in academic activities in the past few weeks would confirm that they have developed a negative attitude in studies (Baranek, 2016, p. 44). The need of carrying out many investigation types of research is to ensure that a conclusion is reached based on reliable and validated information. During the investigations, I would ensure that the objectives are very clear and consistent with the required decisions. I would draw my conclusions based on similar patterns or trends. All contradicting information would be discarded. They would hence not be used in decision making. All management information systems in the college would be adjusted so that they can meet the set objectives for information processing (Menzies Bruhn, 2010, p. 111). Recommendation and decision on the information If most of the results from the investigation suggest that students have positive study attitude, then that would be splendid and encouraging. It would be important to encourage the teachers and college management to continue with the good academic activities that might have made the students to develop positive study attitudes. I would recommend for the provision of rewards for teachers and students for the development of such attitude among them. Rewards would emphasize and promote positive study attitude. Rewards are motivated. Both students and teachers would be triumphal and energized towards developing even better study attitudes (Baranek, 2016, pp. 23-39). On the other hand, if most of the investigation results indicate that there is negative study attitude among students, then I would recommend for the promotion of positive attitude. Good academic performance in college cannot be achieved when students have negative study attitudes (Guyana: Ministry of Education, 2016, p. 41). Teachers too would also have difficulty in teaching the students. It would hence be necessary for the feeling to be changed within the shortest period possible. There would need to review the teaching and learning methods used in the college. Besides, it would be necessary for rewards to be introduced in the college. Students who perform better in academics should be rewarded for their efforts. Nonperforming students should also be encouraged and praised for every positive effort that they make in studies. The praises and rewards could encourage positive study attitude among the students (Ellis Tod, 2014, pp. 12-19). It is in necessary to make some visits to the college before finally carrying out the surveys. Such visits would enable me to be familiar with the college environment. It will also provide me with an opportunity to develop a close relationship with the students, teaching staff and the management team. A good relationship with the people in the learning institution will work easier during the surveys. I would not be considered as a stranger anymore. The students, teaching staff, and the management team, would be able to share all the information that I would request for. I would undertake five surveys at the college to ensure that the college management and students still support the activities that I would have proposed. I would make frequent phone calls to the teachers and the management team at the college. The phone calls would be made to ensure that I maintain regular contact with them given that they are the implementers of the action plan. Keeping in regular contact would act as a reminder to the implementers so that there is a need for the activities to be fully supported. Regular contact with the implementers would also enable them to seek for any further clarification from me if any. I would also be in a position to make frequent inquiries on the progress of the implementation program. Apart from the making of phone calls, I would physically travel to the college on frequent occasions to have a one on one meeting with the college teachers and the management team as well (Cooper, 2002, pp. 23-29). My presence at the college will give me the opportunity to assess the progress of the program closely. I would also be able to take to the college students and obtain their opinions regarding the programs under implementation. I would also conduct follow-up meetings to ensure that the action plan was keenly followed. I would use the follow-up meetings to engage the college teacher and the management team on the success of the action plan (Guyana: Ministry of Education, 2016, pp. 2-32). We would share the success that would have been recorded. They would also be able to update me on further actions that we could still undertake. Frequent contacts and meeting with the implementers will also enable me to identify and rectify issues as they arise. I will be informed of any arising issue at the very moment it comes up. Since there will be no compilation of issues, I would be in a position to prepare well and fully handle every issue that would have arisen. Irrespective of the outcome of t he program, I would continue to champion the programs. Research has shown that rewards and praise motivate students to work harder in academics (Menzies Bruhn, 2010, p. 37). I would therefore not in hesitate in championing the program. Some results can only be achieved after a long period. It would, therefore, be necessary who is implementing the program to be patient and simply continue championing it. Finally, I would undertake and present a final evaluation of the programs. The program requires financial support for it to be fully implemented. I would evaluate the total cost and then draw a budget outlining the cost of all the items that would be necessary for the full implementation of the program. Besides, I would also evaluate the benefits that would be achieved through the implementation of the program. Finally, it would be necessary to calculate the total opportunity cost that would be involved in the entire program Conclusion Investigations of issues require a lot of dedicated work. A outcome of inquiry should be verified properly before a final decision is finally made. Some decisions may be misleading. It is, therefore, necessary for an individual to be fully convinced over an issue before the final decision is made. Poor decisions may be misleading and expensive. Students study attitude dictates whether a student will prosper in academics or not. Students with positive study attitude are likely to perform better in school. However, students with negative study attitude are likely to record poor performance in school. It is therefore very necessary for the students with negative study attitude to be encouraged and motivated so that they can improve their study attitude. Its important to keep a close contact with the implementers of the program so that they can provide guidance and advice to the team of implementers. Such close contact would remind the implementers of the need for urgently. I am equally important to draw an implementation plan indicating the entire budget, benefits and cost opportunities involved. The organizer of the program should be in the frontline in championing for the implementation of the program to the very end. References List Artino Jr, A. R., 2005. Review of the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire. [Online] Available at: https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED499083.pdf [Accessed 16 April 2017]. Baranek, L. K., 2016. The Effect of Rewards and Motivation on Student Achievement, s.l.: s.n. Burns, R., 1984. Study habits, skills and attitudes. New Jersey: Springer. Cooper, B. Foy, M., 2011. Studentsstudy habits, attitudes and academic attainment. New York: Cooper. Cooper, P., 2002. Effective Schools for Disaffected Students: Integration and Segregation, London,UK: Routledge. Cred, M. Kuncel, N. R., 2008. Study habits, skills, and attitudes: The third pillar supporting collegiate academic performance. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 3(6), pp. 425-453. Ellis, S. Tod, J., 2014. Promoting Behaviour for Learning in the Classroom: Effective Strategies, Personal Style and Professionalism, London,UK: Routledge. Great Britain: Department for Education, 2010. The importance of teaching, London,UK: The Stationery Office. Guyana: Ministry of education, 2016. Advantages of rewards in classroom, s.l.: Ministry ot Education, Guyana. Menzies, H. M. Bruhn, A. L., 2010. Managing Challenging Behaviors in Schools: Research-based Strategies that Work, New York: Guilford Press. Naglieri, J. A. Bornstein, B. T., 2003. Intelligence and achievement: Just how correlated are they?. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 21(1), pp. 244-260.