Under some conditions, negative feedback can increase students' intrinsic motivation to perform school tasks. The four teacher statements below all present negative feedback. Choose the statement below that is most likely to promote intrinsic motivation.
A) "I know you have the ability to write a better essay than this, Janet. Let me give you some suggestions about what you might do differently next time."
B) "Yours is the lowest quiz score in the entire class, Bill. I want you to see if you can do better than at least half of your classmates next time."
C) "The German Club should be embarrassed about the mess it left in the cafeteria after school yesterday. Do you want the rest of the school to think that German Club members are slobs?"
D) "I'm not pleased with the projects that you students turned in yesterday. You should be ashamed of yourselves for not taking the assignment more seriously."

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Statement A acknowledges Janet's ability and provides constructive feedback for improvement, which can increase her sense of competence and autonomy, two key factors in promoting intrinsic motivation. The other statements use shaming, comparison, or accusatory language, which can decrease intrinsic motivation.

Under Some Conditions, Negative Feedback Can Increase Students' Intrinsic Motivation