Back to the main menu | Psychology Home Goal Setting and Intrinsic Motivation Faculty member: Judith Harackiewicz Number of positions typically available each semester: 5 to 10 Minimum number of credit hours required: 3 Number of semesters student is expected to participate: 2 Project Description: Intrinsic Motivation Lab Intrinsic motivation is the desire to perform a task for no reason other than the value and enjoyment inherent in doing it. Our lab studies what increases and decreases intrinsic motivation to perform a variety of activities. We are social psychologists interested in how other people (e.g., parents, teachers, coaches) influence an individual's intrinsic motivation. So, studies conducted in our lab involve tasks that are inherently interesting such as pinball, Boggle, and Math Magic. In order to capture the experience of intrinsic motivation in the lab, we ask our participants to learn about and actually perform these activities. Only then are we able to study the psychological processes predicted by theory to lead to task enjoyment. People who work in our lab are integral to this process because they work closely with participants and conduct experimental sessions. Additionally, because each session with a participant requires at least two experimenters (and sometimes more), our lab fosters a community atmosphere and provides the opportunity to meet and work with many people. We study what makes activities enjoyable, and we have fun doing it. While working in our lab, students learn a lot about various phases of the research process. Primarily, lab assistants conduct experimental sessions, collect pilot data, enter and check data, maintain lab materials, and contribute their perspectives and ideas to the lab community. Whereas computer and technical skills are not required, a motivation to learn and actively participate in the lab is essential. Contact: Judith Harackiewicz phone: 262-5924 office: 321 email: jmharack@facstaff.wisc.edu *best way to contact me © 2000 by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System Last updated: Web Administrator comments