The multiple meanings of motivation to write

Abstract

Although over the past three decades motivational research, on the one hand, and writing research, on the other, have greatly developed, studies on the motivational aspects of writing are relatively recent. This introductory chapter is aimed at highlighting the motivational variables that have been particularly investigated in their relations to writing: in particular, interest, self-efficacy, and self-regulation. The motivational implications of the socio-constructivist approach to writing are also underlined. At the end of the chapter, the organization of the volume is presented.