What is a common outcome of extrinsic motivation in an educational context?

In an educational context, extrinsic motivation, which refers to being driven by external rewards such as grades, praise, or incentives, often leads to temporary engagement and performance. This outcome is common because when students are motivated by external factors, their focus tends to be on achieving those rewards rather than an intrinsic love for learning or understanding the material deeply.

Extrinsic motivation can result in students putting in effort primarily when they anticipate a reward or consequence, which may boost their performance in the short term. However, once those external motivators are removed or diminished, their drive to continue learning or engaging with the subject matter often declines. This contrasts with intrinsic motivation, where a genuine interest in the content fosters a more lasting commitment to learning and exploration.

In contrast, other outcomes such as increased independence, heightened critical thinking skills, and long-term commitment to learning are generally associated with intrinsic motivation. These qualities develop when students are personally invested in their learning processes and feel a sense of autonomy and interest in what they are studying.