Attribution: Looking back and ahead at the ‘why’ theory

Abstract

Motivation is generally acknowledged as a key determinant of successful outcomes in learning. However, simply acknowledging the importance of learner motivation does not allow us to understand fully how learners develop motivation and how we can help them sustain that level of motivation. In order to understand motivation more fully, it is important to explore some of the factors that contribute to an individual’s desire to learn and achieve. One of these is learners’ attributions.