Definitions

According to Deci and Ryan (2000), Self-Determination Theory (SDT)  is a  theory of motivation.  It is concerned with supporting our natural or intrinsic tendencies to behave in effective and healthy ways.

Autonomy involves having the experience of choice.  

Importance

When a person thinks "I want to do this" or "I would like to this " or " I would find it valuable to do that " that person has a sense of self- determination.  People will be able to become more   (Ormrod,2008,p.463)

People have a greater sense of self-determination-and so are more intrinsically motivated-when they are able to make choices with reasonable limits, about the things they do and the outcome for which they will work (Deci & Ryan, 2000,p. 227-268)

Self-Determination helps people to stay on task and become more involved in the activities they participate in. 

According to Ormrod (2008), when present conditions and events confirm a learners feeling of self-determination, learners are likely to 

• Experience pleasure in activites
• Think meaningful and creatively about tasks and problems
• Achieve at high levels
• Stay in school

Usage and Applications

According to Bremer, Kachgal, and Schoeller, a self-determined person is one that sets goals, makes decisions, solves problems, and understands what supports are needed for success.  An educator or parent must do things to promote choice making such as

• Identify strengths, interest and learning styles
• Provide choices about clothing, family events, and methods of learning new information
• Hold expectations high for youth 
• Encourage exploration of possibilites
• Promote reasonable risk taking
• Encourage problem solving
• Promote self advocacy
• Facilitate Development of self esteem 
• Develop goal setting

To see another blog on self-determination, by Dr. Rob Kiltz click here.

Advantages and Disadvantages

ADVANTAGES

1. Undertake challenges that maximize long-term learning and development

2. Achieve at higher levels

3. Stay in school rather than dropping out

4. Increases interpersonal involvement

5. Increase in attendance rates of classes

(Ormrod,2008,p.463-465).

                                                   DISADVANTAGES

Surveillance - People who know they are going to be evaluated based on their performance have a lower sense of self-determination, as a result, are less instrinsically motivated(Ormrod,2008,p.466).

Evaluation--when people can undermine their own sense of self-determination simply by imaging that others may be evaluating their performance(Deci & Ryan,1992; Ryan,1982).

Theories and Theorists

 Goal-setting theory

Locke and Latham's (1990) goal-setting theory has had a substantial impact in the field of work motivation. They suggested that people's goal representation are the efficient causes of behavior and that people's performance will maximized when (1) they set specific, difficult goals that have high valence and (2) they understand what behavior will lead to the goals and feel competent to do those behaviors(Gagne & Deci,2005).






Social Learning Theory






According to Bandura , people learn through observing others' behavior, attitudes, and outcomes of those behaviors. "Most human behaviors is learned observationally through modeling: Social learning theory has sometime been called a bridge between behaviorist and cognitive learning theories because it encompasses attention, memory, and motivation.




Cognitive Evaluation theory





CET concerns intrinsic motivation, motivation that is based on satisfactions of behaving "for its owns sake."  Prototypes of intrinsic motivation are children exploration and play, but intrinsic motivation is a lifelong creative wellspring.CET specifically addresses the effect of social contexts on intrinsic motivation, or how factors such as rewards, interpersonal controls, and ego-involvements impact intrinsic motivation and interest(Ryan,R. M. & Deci,E.L.2002).

References

Bandura, Albert. (1977). Social Learning Theory. New York: Learning Press. Retrieved  April 17,2011, from http://www.learning-theories. com/social-learning-theory-bandura.html




Bremer,C.D., Kachgal, and Schoeller, Self-Determination in Action:Learning to Make Choices. Retrieved April 18,2011.


Gagne,Marylene and Deci,Edward L. Self-determination theory and work motivation; Journal of Organizational Behavior:
J. Organz. Behav.26,331-362(2005).  Retrieved  April 16,2011,from ,http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/dil/10.1002/job.322/pdf




Ormrod, J. (2008). Human Learning. (5th edition). Upper Saddle River, NJ: 

 Pearson Prentice Hal

Ryan, R. and Deci, E. (2000). Self determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development,  and 
well being. Psycarticles. Retrieved from http://psycnet.apa.org/journals/amp/55/1/68/