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The influence of topic interest, prior knowledge, and cognitive capabilities on text comprehension
(1990)
The present study investigated the influence of topic interest on the comprehension of texts. The primary goals of the study were as follows: (1) to formulate a new definition of the concept "topic interest", (2) to control for cognitive capabilities (intelligence, short-term memory) and prior knowledge, and(3) to assess different levels of comprehension. A total of 53 male students, majoring in computer science, took part in the study. Subjects were presented with a text on "Psychology of Emotion". Prior to reading the text, they were asked to indicate their level of interest in the topic. After reading the text, subjects were given a test of comprehension involving open-ended questions. The questions were designed to represent different levels of comprehension. The results show that the effect of topic interest on text comprehension is especially pronounced when a deeper level of understanding is required. Surprisingly, prior knowledge had no effect on the level of comprehension. Verbal intelligence, on the other hand, showed a clear effect on comprehension, especially in answering questions of simple knowledge. The effects of interest and verbal intelligence could be shown to be independent of one another.
Motivational conditions have been thus far largely neglected by contemporary theoretical approaches in knowledge psychology. The present article attempts to demonstrate the necessity for the greater integration of both. Suggestions are made regarding the choice and conceptualization of relevant motivational factors. Two possible groups of factors can be distinguished: (1) motivational factors of personality, and (2) motivational effects of action. Available theoretical approaches (e.g., the "levels of processing" approach) and examples are used to clarify the potential effects of these factors on the acquisition and representation of knowledge. Finally, a review is made of empirical studies allowing confirmatory allegations about the posited relationships between motivational factors and processes related to knowledge. This review reveals substantial research deficits on this topic.
This study addressed the role of reading motivation as a potential determinant of losses or gains in reading competence over six weeks of summer vacation (SV). Based on a sample of 223 third-grade elementary students, structural equation analyses showed that intrinsic reading motivation before SV contributed positively to both word and sentence comprehension after SV when controlling for comprehension performance before SV. These effects were mediated by reading amount. Extrinsic reading motivation did not show significant associations with end-of-summer comprehension scores. Taken together, the findings suggest that intrinsic reading motivation facilitates students’ development of reading comprehension over SV.
This study examined relationships among interest, achievement motivation, mathematical ability, the quality of experience when doing mathematics, and mathematics achievement. One hundred eight freshmen and sophomores (41 males, 67 females) completed interest ratings, an achievement motivation questionnaire, and the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test. These assessments were followed by 1 week of experience sampling. Mathematics grades were available from the year before the study started, from the same year, and from the following 3 years. In addition, a measure of the students' course level in mathematics was included. The results showed that quality of experience when doing mathematics was mainly related to interest. Grades and course level were most strongly predicted by level of ability. Interest was found to contribute significantly to the prediction of grades for the second year and to the prediction of course level. Quality of experience was significantly correlated with grades but not course level.
This study investigated the relation between interest in four different subject areas (mathematics, biology, English, history) and the quality of experience in class. The strength of interest as a predictor of experience was contrasted with that of achievement motivation and scholastic ability. A total of208 highly able freshmen and sophomores completed interest ratings, an achievement motivation questionnaire, and the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT). These assessments were followed by one week of experience sampling. In addition, grades were available for the subject areas involved. The results showed that interest was a significant predictor of the experience of potency, intrinsic motivation, self-esteem, and perception of skill. Controlling for ability and achievement motivation did not decrease the strength of these relations. Achievement motivation and ability proved to be considerably weaker predictors of the quality of experience than was interest. In addition, interest contributed significantly to the prediction of grades in mathematics, biology, and history, but not English. The main results and some limitations of the study are discussed, and suggestions for future research are made.