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Behavioral and Brain Functions
Published in: Behavioral and Brain Functions 1/2011

Open Access 01-12-2011 | Research

Relationship between cognitive function and prevalence of decrease in intrinsic academic motivation in adolescents

Authors: Kei Mizuno, Masaaki Tanaka, Sanae Fukuda, Kyoko Imai-Matsumura, Yasuyoshi Watanabe

Published in: Behavioral and Brain Functions | Issue 1/2011

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Abstract

Background

Decrease in intrinsic motivation is a common complaint among elementary and junior high school students, and is related to poor academic performance. Since grade-dependent development of cognitive functions also influences academic performance by these students, we examined whether cognitive functions are related to the prevalence of decrease in intrinsic academic motivation.

Methods

The study group consisted of 134 elementary school students from 4th to 6th grades and 133 junior high school students from 7th to 9th grades. Participants completed a questionnaire on intrinsic academic motivation. They also performed paper-and-pencil and computerized cognitive tests to measure abilities in motor processing, spatial construction, semantic fluency, immediate memory, short-term memory, delayed memory, spatial working memory, and selective, alternative, and divided attention.

Results

In multivariate logistic regression analyses adjusted for grade and gender, scores of none of the cognitive tests were correlated with the prevalence of decrease in intrinsic academic motivation in elementary school students. However, low digit span forward test score and score for comprehension of the story in the kana pick-out test were positively correlated with the prevalence of decrease in intrinsic academic motivation in junior high school students.

Conclusions

The present findings suggest that decrease in capacity for verbal memory is associated with the prevalence of decrease in intrinsic academic motivation among junior high school students.
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Metadata
Title
Relationship between cognitive function and prevalence of decrease in intrinsic academic motivation in adolescents
Authors
Kei Mizuno
Masaaki Tanaka
Sanae Fukuda
Kyoko Imai-Matsumura
Yasuyoshi Watanabe
Publication date
01-12-2011
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Behavioral and Brain Functions / Issue 1/2011
Electronic ISSN: 1744-9081
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1744-9081-7-4

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