ABSTRACTGOAL FRAMING AND INTRINSIC MOTIVATION: IMPACT ON UNDERPERFORMING STUDENTSByEric D. Thomas This qualitative study was facilitated at a local high school and investigated how a student's achievement (e.g. grades, behavior, or attendance record) is influenced by his or her desire to fulfill his or her goals once they have successfully made the connection between the ability to fulfill those goals and the education process. This study also investigated how students articulated motivation in the context of whether students were externally or intrinsically motivated or whether students exhibit a combination of both. Each of the 14 student participants recruited were represented in an individual case study. The individual case analysis was gathered from numerous sources of data collected over a four-month investigative time frame. This study entailed numerous methods of data collection generally used in qualitative case study design - interviewing, observations, and document analysis.Additionally, cross-case analysis brought to light recurring themes experienced by the students. In observing the participants, we see that the majority of the students demonstrate a combination of goal dependent framing. Aspects of hedonic goal framing, gain goal framing, and normative goal framing have been observed in almost all of the participants. Students use goal framing and motivational practices at school to internalize and personalize their school experience. It is also important to note the role teachers and parents play in students' academic and personal development and the creation of their goal framing. Students that experience academic challenges often face untraditional struggles and often don't internalize school on a deep level. That is to say, many students are only motivated by extrinsic factors such as grades and the possibilities of graduating from high school or going to college. However, research suggests student that are intrinsically motivated, learn for the enjoyment of learning and have a much better academic experience.
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