An economics professor asked your advice, as an organizational behavior student, about how to motivate her first-year students. With reference to equity theory, goal setting theory, and expectancy theory, what would you advise?

What will be an ideal response?

1. Equity theory requires that all grades be linked to performance. The professor needs to accurately grade each student?s work and ensure a fair system of testing and grading. If students fail to see a relationship between their work and test performance, and their grade, they will not be motivated to study.
1 The worst thing the professor can do, according to goal setting theory, is to announce that the course is difficult and that only a small percentage can be expected to pass. Instead she needs to make the course expectations clear, create tests that are challenging but not impossible, and provide regular feedback on class performance.
2 With reference to expectancy theory, the class requirements need to be set based on the aptitude and capabilities of the students, and these need to be clearly communicated to the class (expectancy). Grading should be fair and reflect the performance of each student (instrumentality). It is reasonable to assume that students would all prefer high grades (valence).