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The Palgrave Handbook of Motivation for Language Learning pp 267–286Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

Task Motivation

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Abstract

Kormos and Wilby provide an overview of task motivation from both a theoretical and empirical perspective. The chapter begins by defining task motivation in second language acquisition research as being composed of both trait- and state-like characteristics. Following the general definition, six main theories of task motivation from educational psychology are summarized, namely, achievement goals, self-efficacy, expectancy value, intrinsic motivation, flow, and interest. The second half of the chapter reviews studies of task motivation in second language acquisition research and discusses the relationships between task motivation and task characteristics, task performance, social factors, and changes in task motivation over time. In concluding the chapter, Kormos and Wilby make suggestions for future research in this relatively under-researched area of motivation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK

    Judit Kormos & James Wilby

Authors
  1. Judit Kormos
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  2. James Wilby
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Correspondence to Judit Kormos .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. School of Education, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

    Martin Lamb

  2. Faculty of Humanities, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary

    Kata Csizér

  3. Department of Social and Behavioural Studies, University West, Trollhättan, Sweden

    Alastair Henry

  4. School of Culture, Media and Society, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan

    Stephen Ryan

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Kormos, J., Wilby, J. (2019). Task Motivation. In: Lamb, M., Csizér, K., Henry, A., Ryan, S. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Motivation for Language Learning. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28380-3_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28380-3_13

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-28379-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-28380-3

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