Students’ Motivation to Learn in Primary School

Abstract

The paper presents considerations about the characteristics of students’ motivation in primary school and how students view certain characteristics of the teaching process as motivating or demotivating. The research included fifth and eighth graders, 617 students from ten primary schools in Serbia. We assumed that primary school students are partially motivated to learn. The results lead us to conclude that the students believe they can achieve their goals by self-efficacy. They have the high level of self-perception of competences. Self-worth, i.e. students’ views of their own qualities, is least valued. The results show the high level of value of academic achievements. Social goals are also important to students. Nonconformity is not satisfactorily developed. The gender, grade and school achievement differences in students’ motivation to learn. The results show that not all teaching strategies are equally motivating. A large percentage of students are indifferent to certain teaching strategies.