Extrinsic Motivation as a Strategy for Enhancing Performance of Agricultural Science Undergraduate Students in Teaching Practice and Research Project: Implications for Counseling

Abstract

The study investigated the use of extrinsic motivation as a strategy to enhance education students’ performance in teaching practice and research project.  Descriptive survey design was adopted. Two research questions and one hypothesis guided the study.  A total of 100 B.Ed Agriculture undergraduates in their 300 level and 400 levels of Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike made up the sample for the study. A – 24 item designed questionnaire titled Extrinsic Motivation for High Performance Questionnaire (EMHPQ) was used to collect data for the study. Mean scores and t-test statistics were used for data analysis. The findings were that extrinsic motivation strategies to a high extent could enhance the students’ performance in teaching practice and research project.  The difference in the mean ratings of the male and female undergraduates on the perceived impact of extrinsic motivation strategy was not significant.  Based on the findings, discussion, counseling implications, conclusion and recommendations were made. One of the recommendations was that professional counseling unit should be established in educational institutions (colleges/facilities) for proper sensitization of lecturers and students on the use of extrinsic motivation strategies in enhancing students performance.