Relationship between Rewards and Intrinsic Motivation for Learning – Researches Review

In this paper, we review some of the initial researches, conducted during the 70's and later, about the potential role of external rewards on intrinsic motivation for learning. This is considered from different theoretical approaches such as self-determination theory, cognitive approach, attribution theory, general interest theory, behaviorist approach. The review is divided into three parts. Firstly, we review researches related to the effect of external reward on reducing internal motivation for learning and some research which is opposite to them. Secondly, we discuss the benefits of motivation for improving creative achievements. Thirdly, a significant part of this paper refers to analyzing the interests, as a part of students’ intrinsic motivation, which are not given enough attention in literature. Finally, we draw conclusions from the researches review. In the summary, analyzing these early researches, we can say that there is a good evidence that rewards have a strong influence on the students’ motivation for learning and high creative outcomes which is opposite to some initial researches (although this depends on the type of undertaking rewards). Considering these early researches indicates that producing negative effects requires combining specific conditions that are not characteristic for activities in everyday life, especially in school life and the idea that rewards disturb intrinsic motivation of individual requires a more detailed analysis. We believe that rewards are not harmful, which is proved by some researches, and that there is a certain interrelation between external motivators and task-oriented motivation which is confirmed by the cognitive approach. Future researches should be oriented towards the examination of the impact of different types of interests on learning and the variety of personal motives, examining the interactions between motivation and cognitive constructs, but also on how to develop personal interests and motivational constructs.