This week’s podcast from Dr. George Velestianos got me thinking about what motivates us to do research? It’s hard, it’s time-consuming, and did I mention the amount of reading that is necessary in order to perform a thorough research study…just thinking about it makes my head hurt. Yet, as I write this I am oddly intrigued by the possibility of undertaking a research project myself in order to get some concrete data to support all the anecdotal claims I have been making over the past few years as an educator.
It was not easy to find any research on what motivates us to do research (maybe more research is needed in this area?). One interesting article I did find polled college faculty who had been published as researchers and found that while many people were motivated by money, either a salary increase or other incentives that were offered to them for undertaking the research (LeBlanc & McCrary, 1990, pp. 67-68) , 42% said that personal satisfaction was the main motivator, followed by rewards for the institution at 21%, rewards for their discipline at 20%, and approval from others at 10% (pp. 65-66).
I don’t think I’m there yet to be motivated fully by personal satisfaction to jump into a research study, although I do feel a ‘pull’ (maybe a push) to start taking part in formal research. Hopefully by the time we start our research projects I will find my motivation and be engaged to become part of the world of academic research.
References:
LeBlanc, A., & McCrary, J. (1990). Motivation and perceived rewards for research by music faculty. Journal of Research in Music Education, 38(1), 61-68.
Hi Steve. Motivation is definitely a big factor for any of us to do anything, but especially for learning. Some people are more motivated by intrinsic factors while others need that extrinsic push (don’t think anyone will say no to that salary increase). I think the linking component here is interest, as interest in a topic definitely helps with motivation.
Steve,
It is a bit intimidating, isn’t it? I too have tonnes of experience and have seen a lot which informs my practice, but the thought of clarifying/answering a specific question through research is another level, which I’m definitely not presently confident about. Just like so much we are reading about these days, wanting to do it (having intrinsic motivation) seems to most often add that proverbial ‘push’. We’ll get there!