Which statement is true about extrinsic motivation?

Which statement is true about extrinsic motivation?

• A. Doing something for external rewards is intrinsic
• B. It involves internal satisfaction
• C. It cannot be useful in classroom
• D. It involves external rewards such as points, candy, compliments, money, test scores, grades

Answer: (D)

Extrinsic motivation is driven by something outside the learner—the promise of rewards or the avoidance of consequences. In a classroom this means incentives like points, candy, compliments, money, test scores, and grades influence behavior and effort. That external payoff is what motivates action, rather than a personal interest in the task itself. This helps explain why the statement about external rewards is true. It contrasts with intrinsic motivation, where the drive comes from internal satisfaction—curiosity, enjoyment, or a sense of accomplishment. Extrinsic rewards can be useful in education for encouraging participation, task completion, and goal attainment when used thoughtfully and balanced with activities that cultivate genuine interest. The other ideas—that doing something for external rewards is intrinsic, that motivation is defined by internal satisfaction, or that extrinsic motivation cannot be useful in the classroom—don’t fit the concept.

Extrinsic motivation is driven by something outside the learner—the promise of rewards or the avoidance of consequences. In a classroom this means incentives like points, candy, compliments, money, test scores, and grades influence behavior and effort. That external payoff is what motivates action, rather than a personal interest in the task itself.

This helps explain why the statement about external rewards is true. It contrasts with intrinsic motivation, where the drive comes from internal satisfaction—curiosity, enjoyment, or a sense of accomplishment. Extrinsic rewards can be useful in education for encouraging participation, task completion, and goal attainment when used thoughtfully and balanced with activities that cultivate genuine interest. The other ideas—that doing something for external rewards is intrinsic, that motivation is defined by internal satisfaction, or that extrinsic motivation cannot be useful in the classroom—don’t fit the concept.