Motivation Influences on Academic Success

The purpose of this study was to determine which form of motivation is most successful in increasing academic success in Kindergarten aged students. The measurement tool for this study was the tracking of student identification of the Kindergarten word list provided by the researcher’s school system. This study involved weekly testing of students to track increased word knowledge. Students in the study were in an intrinsically motivated group or an extrinsically motivated group to track which style of motivation was most effective to student learning. All students in this study achieved an increase in Kindergarten word knowledge. Research in this area of motivation should continue as there was very little difference in which style of motivation is more effective to students at this age level.